From GLClair at aol.com Sun Mar 1 06:35:26 2009 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 07:35:26 EST Subject: [Biblemat] HILLIARD BULLETIN for March 2009 Message-ID: Hilliard Bulletin Published by the church of Christ Meeting at 4840 Cemetery Road ? P.O. Box 96 Hilliard, Ohio 43026 Phone: (614) 876-4089 Preacher and Editor: Garreth L. Clair Phone: (614) 850-7252 Email: _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) ============================================================== Volume 11 Number 3 March 2009 ============================================================== NOTE: The subject matter for this month?s lead article is a continuation of the article that appeared in Volume 11 ? Number 2 ? January 2009. It has been suggested that I include the whole article in this month?s issue. The complete article follows. PERSONAL EVANGELISM There are many people today who possess a form of religion that is displayed as hostile, disagreeable, and simply rude. I know of no occasion where it is a requirement of the person who seeks to be involved in personal evangelism to be anything but kind, considerate, and patient with those they seek to turn from the world and toward the love of God cf. John 3:16 ?For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.? (KJV) There are many people today who follow a false religion ? there is no denying that fact. This is glaringly revealed via the contradictory teachings that exist between the many religions in America today. I know of no teaching in the Holy Scriptures that suggest that any religion is acceptable to Almighty God regardless of what one believes and practices cf. Luke 5:21-24 ?21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 but when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, what reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins,? (KJV). I do know that the Bible teaches that mankind is acceptable to God when he follows God?s instruction. The very first family (i.e. Adam and Eve) found this to be the case when they partook of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden; cf. Genesis 3:1-24. Adam and Eve disobeyed God?s command and they as well as all humanity have been paying the price (i.e. physical death and all the evils of physical life on earth and also separation from God). MEETING OBJECTIONS We were all lost and without hope in the world until Messiah (i.e. Jesus Christ) came into the world and set up the Kingdom of God (i.e. the church of Christ) in the first Century C.E. Indeed, Jesus Christ promised that He would build the church cf. Matt. 16:18 ?And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it? (KJV). The promise of Christ to build his church took place nearly 2,000 years ago when, according to the New Testament book of Acts in chapter 2, verses 1-47 we have the process by which God brought the church into existence and the record of 3,000 conversions to it. Since this is a fact, we are obligated to go and do personal work with everyone that we meet or know who is not already a Christian as we are a Christian. REMEMBER THIS: there is only one kind of Christian that is a person who complies with the instruction (i.e. follows the Divine Pattern for conversion) contained in the book of Acts. The pattern revealed for salvation from sin is: 1. Hearing (i.e. understanding it) the gospel ? Rom. 10:17 2. Believing ? Mark 16:15-16 3. Repenting of past sin ? Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38 4. Confession with the mouth ? Romans 10:9-10 Acts 8:37-38 ?37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him? (KJV). 5. Being baptized ? Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21 AND - Christ then adds the saved person to His Body the Church - cf. Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 12:27 ?Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular? (KJV) _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) Continued from February issue ? Whenever a person is obedient to God?s instruction regarding the plan of salvation that person is added to the church by the Lord. This matter of being added to the Body of Christ (i.e. the Universal Church is an action by the Lord). This guarantees that no pretenders will be a part of the Universal Church only those that have truly been converted wholly to the truth ? cf. John 8:32, ?? ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (i.e. from sin).? After having been added to the Body of Christ the new convert may seek to join the fellowship of a local congregation (i.e. a church) located at a specific address. The brethren will accept the new Christian based upon his/her creditable evidence offered that they are a Christian. Upon their acceptance into a local congregation this new babe in Christ will need to begin a continuing process of growth ? cf. 2 Peter 3:18 ?But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.? (KJV) The final accounting will not occur in this life. If we have lived faithfully all our lives to the Lord?s instruction, we will finally receive a reward. Note Paul?s reference to the crown of life in 2 Tim. 4:5-7. The Road to Spiritual Health There are many people who are ill today, suffering from dangerous maladies. Although this is not new, there are a greater number of people suffering from illness. It seems that in spite of the fact that there are new cures for many of the serious diseases that afflict mankind the number of people expiring increases each year. Many of these people will expire from cancer, heart problems, venereal diseases, and illegal drug abuse. Indeed, most of these deaths and others occur to people who have never considered the greatest disease of all that affects the living and those that die. That disease is ?sin?. Yes! Many people never consider the fact that they may die some day (Heb. 9:27). Most of us are unconcerned with the idea of death until we reach an old age. Yet many people die before they reach 70 years of age. A large number of the population in America will die while still young due to accidents, illegal drug abuse, venereal diseases, and other factors. Many of these will never have thought of death until it suddenly takes them away from the living. Most of the people who die while still young never consider the death of their soul (i.e. eternal separation from God) - Heb. 9:27-28 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Yet, to die while still in sin means that one will never go to heaven (i.e. a glorious paradise prepared for all the ?saved from sin? people of all ages). Because of this alarming fact I want to let you know that God loves you and does not want you to die and never know him (John 3:16). I want to introduce you to the God of the Bible and God?s Heaven prepared for the people who have been saved from their sins and have lived and died as faithful children of God - cf. 1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (KJV) You need not worry and fret about these matters while you are able to do something about your status with God. You can make your plans to go to heaven someday by coming to the Lord on His terms ? cf. Matt 11:28-30 28 Come unto me , all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (KJV) For a better understanding of this process of becoming a Christian and gaining confidence in your future with God please contact us at _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) or send us a request by U.S. Mail and enroll in a 7 lesson Bible correspondence course that will assist you in knowing God and God ?s plans for your future. Remember this; we do not know what tomorrow holds for us; while we are healthy and alert we ought to consider each day as a wonderful gift from God and plan to be with Him someday. _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) SEE ALSO ? considermagazine.com >From the Preacher?s Desk ? Number 1 Articles ? Sermon Outlines ? Questions and Answers _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) SIX QUESTIONS FROM 2 Timothy 1:12 1. HAVE I BELIEVED? Romans 10:14 2. WHOM HAVE I BELIEVED? Acts 8:37 3. DO I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED? John 10:14 4. WHAT HAVE I COMMITTED UNTO HIM 1 Peter 4:19 5. AM I PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE TO KEEP THAT WHICH I HAVE COMMITTED UNTO HIM? John 10:28 6. AM I PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE TO KEEP THAT WHICH I HAVE COMMITTED UNTO HIM AGAINST THAT DAY? Romans 8:38, 39 ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? 1. YOU OUGHT TO BE: A. Because you cannot go the heaven without being one, Acts 2:47; Eph. 1:22, 23 B. Because you are in bondage to the Devil until you become one, Romans 8:15-21 C. Because you are in the Kingdom of Darkness and will continue to be in it until you do, Col. 1:13 2. YOU CAN BE IF YOU FOLLOW THE PLAN OF GOD, FOLLOWING; A. Hearing the gospel Romans 10:17 B. Believing the gospel Mark 16:15, 16 C. Repenting of past sins Acts 2:38 D. Confessing Christ Romans 10:9, 10 E. Being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3, 4 3. YOU NEED TO OBEY CHRIST TODAY: See Hebrews 5:8, 9 HILLIARD BULLETIN FOR MARCH 2009 **************You're invited to Hollywood's biggest party: Get Oscars updates, red carpet pics and more at Moviefone. (http://movies.aol.com/oscars-academy-awards?ncid=emlcntusmovi00000001) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090301/00539752/attachment-0001.html From richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com Sun Mar 1 19:57:45 2009 From: richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 18:57:45 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (3/1/09) Message-ID: <20090302020042.15AF6230057@dumbledore.whizardries.com> Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) March 1, 2009 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "Walking in the Counsel of God" (Richard Thetford) "How Church Growth Occurs" (Selected) "Let the Church be the Church " (Ron Lloyd) "SENTENCE SERMONS --- WALKING IN THE COUNSEL OF GOD Richard Thetford Do you want to be happy? Do you want a peaceable, stress free life? Do you want to be free of worry? Surely every single one of us would answer a resounding "YES" to everyone of these questions. Believe it or not, this is possible. When we are determined to walk in the counsel of God then we will become happy, peaceable, living a stress free, worry free life! The counsel of God was given to man for the very purpose of making our life easier, not more complicated while we live here on earth. When we allow God's counsel to guide our life, then we will understand peace. The Psalmist wrote: "You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (Psalms 73:24). It is only when we let God's counsel guide us that we can gain true happiness because only God can provide this avenue for us. After all, He created us didn't He? Therefore, He should know what we (His creation) need to sustain our life and to live it more abundantly (John 10:10). In addition, the counsel of God encourages us. The Hebrew writer says: "Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us" (Heb 6:17-18). God wants each one of us to be with Him in glory forever. In order for us to obtain this glory we must want to do only those things that God's counsel directs of us. If we have the right heart, truly seeking to be pleasing to God, then we will WANT TO follow God's counsel. Do you really want peace, happiness, and a stress free, worry free life? If so, then listen to God. What Should We Do With God's Counsel? Don't reject the counsel of God. We'll never be any better off than we are today when we continue to reject God's message to us. To reject God's counsel is to be no better than the Pharisees and lawyers of Jesus' day. "And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him" (Luke 7:30). Instead of rejecting God's counsel and continuing in our stress and worry of life, why not try to understand the message? Micah 4:12 says: "But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, nor do they understand His counsel; for He will gather them like sheaves to the threshing floor." When we fail to try to understand God's message to us then we can know our eternal fate. Understand now before it is everlastingly too late! When we open our hearts to learn and understand God's will for us then we can declare the whole counsel of God to all as the apostle Paul did (Acts 20:27). God's Counsel to Us God simply asks us to BELIEVE Him and OBEY Him (Luk 7:30; Acts 20:20,21,27)! Listening to God's counsel is likened to the buying of fine gold. Jesus said: "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Rev 3:18-19). What does this mean? This passage means that we should invest in those things that will store up treasure for us in heaven, not on earth. It means that we should strive to be pure in every area of our life, as pure as white! It means that we should keep our eyes constantly looking, aware of the evil one, lest we be consumed. It means that each day of our life we should be determined to allow God's law to counsel us and be willing to repent of any wrong that we are guilty of. Why Follow God's Counsel? The only way we can stand guiltless before God's judgment seat is to follow His will. Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matt 7:21). To be God's people, we must follow His commands (Acts 13:22,26). Of course the only way to enter into heaven is to be well pleasing to God, and that only occurs when we obey God, listening to His counsel! Are you happy? Are you at peace? Are you free of stress and worry? If not, you are not letting God truly guide your life. Jesus said: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30). --- HOW CHURCH GROWTH OCCURS Selected The following is from a poll taken of several church groups. It takes individual effort to reach those not in Christ. 1% occurs from "walk ins." 1% results from special crusades or evangelistic programs. 2% occurs from the general visitation by the preacher. 3% occurs from people finding a special or unique need in a congregation. 6% occurs because the church has a good or popular preacher. 7% occurs because the congregation has good children's and adult Bible classes. 10% occurs because the church offers pleasing social programs. 70% occurs from members inviting their friends, relatives or other people in their daily life. --- LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH Ron Lloyd Pioneer preachers, in battling denominationalism, often appealed to texts like Jeremiah 6:16 "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls"; and Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." As they preached these scriptures from God's holy Word they often said, "Let the church be the church." So should we! Much of the battle is now concentrated upon liberal attitudes and ways within the church and our own memberships. Young people and inexperienced older members must often be reminded that the church was not, and is not a social, recreational or health center. It is a spiritual center. To correct the situation, people in every congregation must be willing to accept the challenge given Gideon, and "Throw down the altars of Baal" (Judges 6:25). Sounds radical, doesn't it? But it is simply that which Truth requires. --- SENTENCE SERMONS To be better tomorrow, let us begin improving today. You need a true purpose to live for and a genuine faith to live by. Outward expressions and actions show your inward disposition. Anger is a wind that can blow out the lamp of the mind. Repeating hearsay and gossip is not a candid examination of situations and facts. Many people would be better off with fewer dollars and more sense. Christians have no right to take vacations from being spiritual. Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. --- SERMON CHURCH COOPERATION (with PowerPoint charts) www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org MEETING TIMES Sunday Bible Study..........10:00 A.M. Worship........11:00 A.M. Wednesday Bible Study........6:30 P.M. Evangelist/Editor Richard Thetford Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 10048 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090301/d2dd1f9f/attachment-0005.gif From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Mar 2 02:12:46 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 03:12:46 EST Subject: [Biblemat] A) WITH GOD Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Monday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an arti- cle from my files: WITH GOD I like to be by myself, but I can't stand being alone. I love the dark, but I hate not being able to see. I enjoy meeting new people, but I hate being with strangers. I want my voice to be heard, but I despise talking loud. I want to be in a hall of fame, but I don't like being the center of attention. I want to have my most complicated problems solved, but I don't want complicated answers. I want to always be healthy, but not have to take medicine. The answer is...God! With God, I can be away from the world, by myself, but not alone, for He is with me. With God, I can be in the dark, be blind, but see more than people of this world can see. With God, I can meet new people, but they won't be strangers, because they are children of God, like me. With God, my voice can be heard even when I whisper. With God, I can enter His hall of fame, but not deal with the pressure of earthly fame. With God, I can have even my most complicated problems solved with a simple answer. With God, I can have an incurable disease, yet be healthy in what matters most. Without God, I will be with the world, and be totally alone. Without God, I will walk around with my eyes wide open, but not see as much as the Christian blind man sees. Without God, I will meet all the people in the world, but they will always be strangers. Without God, I will have to raise my voice as loud as I can to be heard, but still not be heard when it matters most. Without God, I will work extremely hard to get into a worldly hall of fame, but not get into the highest one. Without God, my most complicated problems can't be solved, and the attempts will be so complicated that I won't understand them. Without God, I will have to take pill after pill, but will always be incurably sick. With God I can achieve anything. Without God, I achieve nothing. What's your choice? Kelsey Harris. Kelsey is the fifteen-year-old daughter of brother and sister Simon Harris of Jonesboro, AR. Kelsey is currently undergoing treatment at St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, TN for a malignant brain tumor. This young lady of great courage and faith sees what some of us are missing. You may send her a card: Kelsey Harris, St. Jude Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090302/40957595/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Mar 2 02:13:10 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 03:13:10 EST Subject: [Biblemat] S) A SONG IN MY HEART Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. A SONG IN MY HEART God in His infinite wisdom has blessed us with many imspiri- tional means to enrich our lives. His command to "sing and make melody" (Eph. 5:19) with our voices is particularly mean- ingful to me. Through the years there have been many songs causing me to reflect upon events in my life that evoke strong sentiments. I spent this morning with my dear mother, Jeanie Clendening After our ritual cup of hot tea, we opened the songbook and spent a wonderful hour singing hymns together. This is almost all I have left of her as she is in the latter stages of Alzheimer's. Interestingly enough, doctors have found singing to be one of the last capacities to leave an Alzheimer's patient. When we sing together, I am transported back to a time when I sat next to her in services listening to her lovely alto voice. Ironically, she opened the book this morning to the hymn Does Jesus Care? Wow! There I sat with my usual heartache next to this shell of my mother's former self. We began to sing this encouraging song. The second verse was especially fitting. Does Jesus care when my way is dark with a nameless dread and fear? As the daylight fades into deep night shades, does He care enough to be near? Mother's way is growing darker... but it is indeed a comfort to know Jesus cares. How I needed that song. Jesus cares about my loss and He cares when you, too, have a broken heart (Psa. 147:3). What a sweet hour we spent singing praises. It reminds me of the words of David, "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being" (Psa. 104:33). The Power Of Singing: -- From childhood days singing the favor- ites such as "Jesus Loves Me", "Little Boy David", and Zachae- us," to my teenage years ith, "How Shall The Young Secure Their Hearts" and "My God And I," and then on to years of other songs that suit the times in my life -- singing strengthens my soul. Due to my mother's godly influence, my father became a Christian. During the years of my youth, he would learn hymns by whistling the tune and then singing the words. When I was nine, we moved to Northern Ireland with my Dad's job. There was no existing church, so Dad rented a small community build- ing, did the preaching and led the singing. He would practice songs at home so he could learn the tune. We moved often with his work and lived in three different foreign countries. Maybe that's why "Anywhere With Jesus" held a special significance for us. There were four children in our family and when we'd argue, Mom would sing "Angry Words." The songs my parents sang frame much of my life. they loved "Above the Bright Blue," "Con- sider the Lilies," "Count Your Blessings," "Give Me The Bible," "I Want to Be A Worker," "The Great Physician," and scores of others. We would sing my grandmother's favorites, "In The Morning Of Joy" and "How Precious is the Book Divine." By the way, what songs will friends and family say are your favorites? Do you sing them often enough for them to know? Singing To Reinforce Faith: -- Songs reinforce our faith and renew our spirits. When you sing "Did You Think To Pray?" you evaluate your prayer life. We are reminded of our hope with "Blessed Assurance," "We Have An Anchor," and "Whispering Hope." We find comfort in "Be With Me, Lord," "God Will Take Care Of You," and "O Heart Bowed Down With Sorrow." We are revived with "Stand Up, Stand Up, For Jesus" and find refuge in "Safe In The Arms Of Jesus," "Lead Me Gently Home, Father" and "I'm Going That Way," assert our goal of heaven. "Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing Psalms" (Jas. 5:13). "Sing and Be Happy" certainly does the trick. The Lord has provided a wonderful and joyous way to praise HIm and to encourage each other. He truly gives us a song. Are you using that avenue to grow closer to Him? Moses told us to keep the Scriptures before us as we walk long the way Sing as you travel in the car, as you do housework, and as you raise your children. In my twenties, I loved to sing, "Jesus is all the world to me..." I sang it so much that my son, Josh, would stand in his crib, and sing every verse -- by the age of two! Sing when you're sad or grieving or struggling or joyous. There is a song for every need and mood. Singing To Make Memories: -- My life has come full circle. My grandchildren and I have started a new family tradition. We go outside in the dark and stick candles in the flower garden dirt and light them. Then we sit in the porch swing and sing their Bible class songs by candlelight. "This Little Light of Mine" takes on special significance in the dark of night with the glow from the candlelight. Hopefully, this will be a lasting, happy memory in their lives, too. Sing and you will be rich with love, comfort, and strength and...in memories (Col. 3:16). About five years ago I took my mother to the beauty shop and when the girl asked her if I was her daughter, she replied, "No, but she is my best friend." As you can imagine, it was a tough moment for me, yet I couldn't help but be thankful that she thought of me in that way. And all the time she sat there that day she was humming a hymn. I couldn't place the tune and on the way home asked her about it. She began singing in her sweet voice the chorus of "Singing Redemption's Sweet Song." I drove down the road with tears running down my cheeks think- ing that my Mother may not know me, but she still knows her Savior. Truly, sadness is sometimes mixed with great joy! Some time has passed since I initially wrote some of these thoughts inspired by the great example of my parents, Dan and Jeanie Clendening. Today, they live in an addition to our home. We often hear Dad singing to Mother as he sits with his gentle arm around her. She watches him as he sings her favorites. She rarely sings anymore, but listens intently and with pleasure as he sings those old hymns she knew so well. This is a memory I will treasure. Their devotion to the Lord and to each other comes back to me in a simple song, "There's Within My Heart A Melody..." ---- Nancy Reaves, in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 5, May, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090302/d50a81cd/attachment-0001.html From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Mon Mar 2 07:11:23 2009 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 06:11:23 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] Bible Truths and Bible Questions Updates Message-ID: <008101c99b38$63193500$6501a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> Don Martin bringing you the updates notification: The new Current Truth for www.bibletruths.net is, "Keepers at Home." This material is an examination and application of Paul's teaching found in Titus 2: 5. I think you will find this exegesis sound and badly needed (see below excerpt). To read the material in full, enter through the door on the home page of Bible Truths and click on "Current Truth" in the directory. "...One would have to be totally out of touch with reality not to know that some of the sweeping changes in America have revolved around women. The various feminist movements have accomplished a lot, mainly regarding the repositioning and defining of the woman in American culture. Little by little, major religions have relented in their teaching as to the role of women and have offered concessions to the feminists (addendum 1). A verse that especially addresses the work, role, and influence of women is Titus 2: 5. The verse reads as follows: "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Tit. 2: 3-5). The new Featured Question for www.biblequestions.org is, "Can you explain eternity?" (Below.) We continue to observe much good being accomplished by our Internet work. Should you have a Bible question, when on the home page, click on the "Ask a question" button and follow the instructions. Why not copy and paste this update to your own mailing list and thus notify them? Question: Can you explain eternity? Answer: The answer to this question is a succinct, no. How can the finite comprehend infinity? While I cannot fully explain eternity, I would like to share some Biblical truths regarding eternity with you. Eternity, for ever, and everlasting. These words are used in our translations to convey or suggest the thought of that which has no ending. Isaiah spoke thus of God, "For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity..." (Isa. 57: 15). regarding the righteous, there is life everlasting (Lk. 18: 30) and everlasting punishment for the wicked (Matt. 25: 46). There is the everlasting gospel and kingdom (Rev. 14: 6; 2 Pet. 1: 11). We are told the fear of the Lord endures for ever (Ps. 19: 9). Everlasting and for ever can mean age-lasting. The scriptures speak of the earth lasting for ever (Eccl. 1: 4). However, we are told this earth shall be "burned up," "dissolved," and the "elements shall melt with fervent heat" (2 Pet. 3: 10-12). Reference is made to the Aaronic priesthood as being an "everlasting priesthood" (Ex. 40: 15 ). Notwithstanding, we are told the priesthood had to change (Heb. 7: 11-28). You ask, how can we know when for ever is meant, no qualification, or age-lasting qualification? The only way is if the matter under consideration as being eternal has no immediate or remote stipulation as being eternal within a specified period (age-lasting). As mentioned, eternality, fully viewed, is beyond man's ability to understand. We only know existence with ending. By faith we accept that God is eternal. He knows no ending ( also, no beginning, Jn. 8: 58). We accept the teaching of everlasting life. Jesus said, "...And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matt. 25: 46). From GLClair at aol.com Mon Mar 2 18:01:29 2009 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 19:01:29 EST Subject: [Biblemat] Article - Concerning Fellowship with Jesus Message-ID: CONCERNING FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS 1 John is the epistle of fellowship. It is a family letter written to the children of God. This fellowship is therefore only between the saved person and God, not the unsaved. The word ?walk? (1:7), is from the Greek word which appears in a second century manuscript in the sentence, ?I am going about in a disgraceful state,? the words ?going about? being its translation. The word refers to conduct; our conduct consists of our thoughts, words, and deeds. The action in the word is continuous, ?If we are constantly walking in the light.? The normal experience of a Christian should be just that, a constantly lived according to the Word of God. The word ?fellowship? is from a Greek word which means ?to have in common with.? The basis of human fellowship is a common nature. An artist and a ditch digger have no fellowship because they have no common nature, but two artists do, for their natures are the same. So with man?s fellowship with God. If a man is to have fellowship with God he must have a common nature. Man has a nature subject to wrath (Eph. 2:3). But in answer to faith (i.e. and obedience, glc) in the Lord Jesus as Savior, a believing (i.e. who keeps on believing and obeys the Lord ? Heb. 5:8-9, glc) sinner is made a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), thus having a common nature with God. As a result he has common likes and dislikes. The Christian who loves and hates what Jesus hates has fellowship with Him. The person who loves what Jesus hates, namely, sin, does not have fellowship with Him. The fellowship here is not between Christians and Christians but between the Christian and God, for the theme of the Book (1:3) ?The Believer?s Fellowship with God.? And the analysis of the section in which this verse is found, ? A Condition of Fellowship with God, ?Walking in the Light,? requires the second meaning. Again the words, ?one with another? are from a reciprocal pronoun in Greek. That speaks of reciprocity, the act of two individuals returning to each other mutual love. This fellowship is not only on the part of the saint with Jesus, but on the part of the Lord Jesus with the saint. The word ?cleanseth? speaks in the Greek of action in progress. The blood of Jesus keeps continually cleansing us from sins of ignorance. The fuller translation is, ?If we are constantly walking in the light as he himself is in the light, we are having constant fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son keeps continually cleansing us from all sin. (Golden Nuggets from the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest) CONSIDER THIS: (Following notes by glclair at aol.com) In this study of the word ?FELLOWSHIP? a great deal can be learned from Mr. Wuest?s notes. There is a good explanation of the nature of the words in the passages. I have added two special notes {in italics} to the assumptions of Mr. Wuest on the matter of action for salvation from sin. I also take issue with the assumption of Mr. Wuest that sins if ignorance is overlooked. I know that as one grows in knowledge and wisdom that they understand many things that they do not understand immediately after becoming a new Christian. Even though this is true is it reasonable to assume the point that Mr. Wuest makes in his next to last paragraph? Monday, March 02, 2009 **************Worried about job security? Check out the 5 safest jobs in a recession. (http://jobs.aol.com/gallery/growing-job-industries?ncid=emlcntuscare00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090302/06b12409/attachment-0001.html From robertwater at gmail.com Wed Mar 4 06:12:46 2009 From: robertwater at gmail.com (Robert Waters) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 06:12:46 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] HOW FULL IS OUR CUP? Message-ID: Robert W here with greetings, Here is an excellent timely article by John Waddey. Have a wonderful day! Robert Waters * HOW FULL IS OUR CUP?* In communicating His will to man, God used both figurative and literal language. Metaphors and similes abound in Scripture as do analogies, hyperbole and other figurative and poetic expressions. God told Abraham his descendants would have to wait 400 years before they could possess Canaan as their homeland. The reason He gave was, "for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full" (Gen. 15:16). His imagery is that of a cup in which was poured the sins and iniquities of the Canaanite tribes. When the cup was full, it meant they had become so evil that they no longer deserved to possess or live in that land. The centuries passed and their cup of iniquity became full. Thus God was just in ordering the Hebrews to drive them out and take their land. Among the reasons assigned for their expulsion was the sacrificing of their children and their sexual debauchery. He warned the Hebrews, "Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you; and the land is defiled: therefore do I visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants" (Lev. 18:19-25). Their expulsion was an act of divine justice. Looking back, we can see that the generation of people who lived in Noah's day had filled the cup of iniquity. "The wickedness of man was great in the earth, and ...every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5). "The earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way..." With the exception of Noah and his family, God resolved to destroy the lot of them (Gen. 6:11-13). The people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities of the plain, corrupted themselves with their vile conduct. God explains why they were destroyed. "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good" (Ezek. 16:49-50). In Jeremiah He added, "In the prophets of Jerusalem also I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies and they strengthen the hands of evil-doers, so that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them become unto me as Sodom..." Their moral, spiritual and social decadence made them ripe for ruin. The Angel of Jehovah told Abraham, "the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and ... their sin is very grievous" (Gen. 18:20). The history of humanity is the rise and fall of nations. Daniel reminds us that "the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (4:25). While God is the sovereign ruler of humanity, he allows both individuals and nations to work out their own destiny. When the Hebrews filled the cup of iniquity God sent, first, the Assyrians and later the Babylonians to conquer them and sweep them from their homeland. When the Assyrians filled their cup, God sent the Babylonians to destroy them. When the Babylonians did the same, He sent the Medes and Persians to destroy them. Jesus pronounced this same judgment on the Jewish state of his day. He said to them, "Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell?...Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation" (Matt. 23:32-36). Christ revealed to John that the cup of the Roman empire was full of abominations including the persecution of His people (Rev. 17:4-5, 18). Her fall was coming! This cycle has been repeated hundreds of times in human history. The careful student will conclude that "the survival of a nation depends on the ethical quality of their national life" ( C. C. Crawford). Nations do not die of accumulated years. They die of internal decay and corruption in their civic and social life. When they are no longer fit to survive, the great Ruler of the universe orders their demise. But what of America in the 21st century? What is the level of iniquity in our cup? Our political, educational, entertainment and media establishments are dominated in large part by secular people who are hostile to Christianity and the moral and social standards God expects of humanity. The sanctity of marriage and family are seriously eroded. The sacredness of human life has been cheapened by abortion and the clamor for assisted suicide. Pornography, prostitution sexual promiscuity are rampant in our nation. Homosexuality is now widely practiced and demanding legitimacy and full acceptance. Alcohol and drug abuse are at epidemic stages. Every kind of paganism has taken root and is flourishing in our land. Anti-Christian cults and isms dot our landscape. Atheism and infidelity are militantly attacking all things sacred. Lawlessness and violence have gripped most of our cities. Greed and corruption in government, in our legal system, in our financial and corporate world are widespread. Personal integrity is at low tide. The name of God and Christ are routinely blasphemed by wicked citizens. I ask you, "How full do you suppose our cup of iniquity to be?" There is a second cup mentioned in the Bible. It is the cup of God's judgment. David writes, "For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and the wine foameth; It is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the same; Surely the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall drain them, and drink them" (Ps. 75:8). The imagery is borrowed from the ancient practice of giving condemned person a cup of poison which when drunk would end their guilty life! There is hope for even a nation filled with much wickedness. God says, "At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation...to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it; if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them" (Jer. 18:7-8). Ten righteous souls could have saved Sodom and Gomorrah. But they could not be found (Gen. 18:32). This reveals the vital role of Christians in a society of sinners. We are the salt that w ill preserve our nation, but only if we retain our influence for good (Matt. 5:13). If we fail in our commitment to Christ we will be rejected with the rest of those who live in defiance to God. Rudyard Kipling understood this lesson. In his Recessional, he wrote, "Lo, all our pomp of yesterday is one with Nineveh and Tyre. Judge of the nations, spare us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget." -John Waddey www.TotalHealth.bz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090304/86288b80/attachment-0001.html From terrywbenton at bellsouth.net Thu Mar 5 07:18:51 2009 From: terrywbenton at bellsouth.net (Terry W. Benton) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 07:18:51 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] R>Resources Message-ID: <583DC6DA193648BC84AA83BECC8F4E95@TerryPC> I have started a Blog dedicated to answering arguments and charges against churches of Christ made out of prejudice, blindness, fear of truth, false and misleading information. It is specially dedicated to collecting answers that will defend the faith, promote understanding of truth, God's word. It is called: Is It A Cult? You may find and join this blog at: http://isitacult.blogspot.com/ Among the topics already posted are such things as: a.. Baptism For The Remission Of Sins b.. ANSWERING PASTOR DAVID MARTIN OF THE BAPTIST CHURC... c.. Common Objections to Baptism's Place in Salvation d.. What About the Thief on the Cross? e.. Baptist Baptism vs. Bible Baptism f.. The Matter of "Baptismal Regeneration" g.. Is the church of Christ a cult? Kevin Cauley It h... h.. Benton-Goldsmith Debate i.. Is It A Cult? j.. ........and many more to come. Also, a fuller assortment of answers to attacks against churches of Christ and biblical truth is found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DebunkingTinroad6g-isms/?yguid=267235728 These materials are good for bulletins, for sending to people you are having discussions with, for personal learning and defense of the gospel. Best Wishes From Terry W. Benton www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com "Choose Ye This Day...." (Joshua 24:15) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090305/279200bf/attachment-0001.html From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Mon Mar 2 18:52:32 2009 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 19:52:32 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] S:> Esther Message-ID: Esther I. Introduction A. Esther: a great example of faith B. Dire challenges for Israel 1. Jews consigned to death! 2. Esther has the opportunity to save her people 3. What shall she do? C. Let us consider the book II. Esther: The Details A. Authorship 1. Author unknown 2. Book sometimes questioned as inspired since it does not have the name of God within it, no NT attestation 3. Nevertheless, hand of God present throughout the book 4. Greek Septuagint includes additions to Esther, parts of book in Greek not found in Hebrew manuscripts-- rather redundant, mentioned here not because they are inspired, but for information's sake B. Dating 1. Book covers events in times of Xerxes king of Persia (ca. 485 BCE) 2. Book written sometime after events C. Audience 1. The audience represents the returned exiles in the Persian period 2. We can gain much also D. Purpose 1. To describe Israel's deliverance from Haman's plot 2. To explain the origins of the feast of Purim 3. To set forth the example of Esther III. Esther: The Story A. Main Sections 1. Esther's Ascension (Esther 1-2) 2. Haman's Plot (Esther 3-7) 3. Vindication (Esther 8-10) B. Xerxes and Vashti (Esther 1) 1. [Greek apocryphal addition: Mordecai's dream, discovery of plot (A:1-17)] 2. Xerxes (Ahasuerus) has great feast in Susa; its opulence (Esther 1:1-8) 3. Queen Vashti also has feast; Xerxes summons her; she does not come (Esther 1:9-12) 4. Wise men advise Xerxes to depose her lest husbands be held in contempt by wives throughout the empire; done (Esther 1:13-22) C. Esther and Mordecai (Esther 2) 1. Xerxes seeks virgins to find next queen (Esther 2:1-4) 2. Mordecai, relative of King Saul through Shimei (cf. 2 Samuel 16, 19), has raised niece Hadassah (Esther); very fair (Esther 2:5-7) 3. Mordecai gets Esther in as one of the virgins; Esther pleasant to chief eunuch, given place of prominence; her Jewish identity not known (Esther 2:8-11) 4. After year of preparation, Esther gets her chance; Xerxes loves Esther, makes her chief queen in Vashti's place (Esther 2:12-20) 5. Mordecai in gate; hears of plot of eunuchs against Xerxes; Esther tells Xerxes in Mordecai's name; written in annals of king (Esther 2:21-23) D. Haman and His Plot (Esther 3) 1. Haman the Agagite elevated in kingdom; Mordecai refuses to bow to him; greatly angers Haman (Esther 3:1-5) 2. Haman conspires to wipe Jews out of empire; convinces Xerxes to go along with it; decreed (Esther 3:6-13) 3. [Greek apocryphal addition: decree of Xerxes (B:1-7)] 4. All things in place (Esther 3:14-15) E. Esther's Test of Faith (Esther 4-5) 1. Mordecai mourns; Esther hears of it, communicates with him via Hathach her eunuch; given copy of decree, instructions (Esther 4:1-9) 2. Esther concerned; not called to see the king; to enter king's presence without summons means death unless the king spares her (Esther 4:10-12) 3. Mordecai encourages Esther to take the risk for her own life and the life of the Jews; all this communication through Hathach (Esther 4:13-14) 4. Esther tells Mordecai to have Jews fast on her behalf and she will go in three days (Esther 4:15-17) 5. [Greek apocryphal addition: prayer of Mordecai; Esther mourns, her prayer (C:1-30)] 6. [Greek apocryphal addition: Esther comes in to see king; king described in superlative terms; she faints twice, is pardoned (D:1-16)] 7. Esther before Xerxes; he lifts scepter toward her, pardoning her; she requests Xerxes and Haman to come to a feast (Esther 5:1-4) 8. Haman, Xerxes come to feast; she requests that they come back the next day for another feast (Esther 5:5-8) 9. Haman exultant at his fortune, despite seeing Mordecai; describes to his wife all the things the king has given him and the feast he enjoyed; soul vexed by Mordecai; commissions gallows to be erected to hang Mordecai (Esther 5:9-14) F. Haman Undone (Esther 6-7) 1. King unable to sleep; has records read to him; account of Mordecai and the uncovering of the plot read (Esther 6:1-2) 2. Xerxes wants to know if anything has been done; told no; Haman enters at this time (Esther 6:3-4) 3. Xerxes asks Haman what should be given to the one in whom the king delights; thinking it refers to himself, he talks about all these grandiose honors; Xerxes tells him to bestow them on Mordecai (Esther 6:5-11) 4. Haman and wife recognize his situation; Haman goes to Esther's banquet (Esther 6:12-14) 5. Feast; Xerxes again asks what Esther wants; she reveals that she and people are to be killed; he wants to know how this happened (Esther 7:1-5) 6. Esther identifies Haman; Xerxes in anger goes to garden; Haman pleads for life; Xerxes thinks he is assaulting queen, Haman is seized (Esther 7:6-8) 7. Xerxes informed of gallows Haman made for Mordecai; commands Haman to be hung on it (Esther 7:9-10) G. Vindication (Esther 8-10) 1. Mordecai given Haman's place, honor; Esther again speaks to king to reverse Haman's decree (Esther 8:1-6) 2. Authority granted to Mordecai and Esther to have new decree written up; new one written giving Jews authority to kill enemies; dispatched quickly by king's horses and horsemen (Esther 8:7-12) 3. [Greek apocryphal addition: copy of decree (E:1-24)] 4. Jews rejoice, have feast and holiday; Mordecai in royal robes (Esther 8:13-17) 5. On appointed day, Jews obtain vengeance on enemies, assisted by royal officials fearing Mordecai; 500 killed in Susa, and 10 sons of Haman (Esther 9:1-12) 6. Xerxes has edict of second day of vengeance; sons of Haman hung; 300 more killed in Susa; 75000 in the provinces (Esther 9:13-16) 7. 14th day of the month of Adar set aside for feasting; Mordecai and Esther make it a perpetual holiday to commemorate the defeat of Haman and God's deliverance; called Purim (Esther 9:17-32) 8. Mordecai in the court, next to Xerxes; took care of Jews and their interests (Esther 10:1-3) 9. [Greek apocryphal addition: Mordecai explains his dream from A as it relates to story of Esther, himself, and Haman; validity of events and purpose for Purim demonstrated in Ptolemaic period (F:1-11)] IV. Esther: Important Passages A. Esther 1:13-17 1. Concern might seem odd to us 2. Demonstration of need for respect of wives for husbands B. Esther 4:11 1. Decorum in court of king 2. Nature of coming before a superior-- you follow his rules, or else 3. Is this not the same with the King of Kings? C. Esther 4:14 1. Mordecai suggests to Esther that God's providential hand has placed her where she is so that she can deliver Israel 2. Encouragement to us: even without direct words from God, we perhaps are placed in circumstances where we can present God's truths by His providential care! V. Conclusion A. Esther: a great story of faith 1. Difficult times and circumstances 2. Esther and Mordecai save the day B. God's providence clearly present C. Let us take opportunities we have to promote God's purposes! D. Invitation/songbook Ethan R. Longhenry / disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus Spiritual Manna A biweekly devotional for your life. http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/manna From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Mar 3 03:05:32 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 04:05:32 EST Subject: [Biblemat] A) WHEN NOBODY NOTICES Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an artic-le from my files: WHEN NOBODY NOTICES Perhaps you've seen th sign that reads, "Housework is something you do that nobody notices unless you don't do it." The truth behind that statement applies to more than just housework. People seem to have no trouble noticing our failur- es -- anger, impatience, criticism, or imperfections. Who notices when we "sometimes" get it right? Sometimes we feel that no- body sees or appreciates what we may do. This may be true ex- cept for one reassuring reality: God sees and He appreciates. There are many great and beautiful things in this world that may go unnoticed: A beautiful sunrise that we are not awake to see, the many beauties that lie underwater, etc. These magnific- ent things are there and those immense things happen, whether we see them or not. God sees. That reality can also be a source of security or comfort for us. According to the apostle Paul, we are ulitimately serving Jesus Christ. "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Col. 3:17. "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve" (Col. 3:23,24). We are to serve Him with an attitude of thanksgiving and from the heart. The Lord not only sees and values what we do, but He also will reward us. "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary" (Gal. 6:9). ---------- Shane Williams in The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, No. 9, Jan. 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090303/30c0576c/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Mar 3 03:05:55 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 04:05:55 EST Subject: [Biblemat] S) APOSTASY Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my ancie- nt files. Use to the glory of God. APOSTASY Possibly the most uncalled for false doctrine taught is the doctrine of "once in grace, always in grace," or "the impossibili- ty of apostasy." If there were only one passage in the Bible that taught the possibility of falling from grace, that would be sufficie- nt to show that one can be lost after becoming a child of God. God does not have to repeat something He says before what He says becomes the Truth. But, for emphasis sake, God has given us many, yea hundreds of statements in His Word which teach that a child of God not only can, but will be lost, if he becomes disobedient. Prominent among those who teach the false doctri- ne of the impossibility of apostasy are the Baptists. Unfortunate-ly, the Baptists teach such a heresy, but more unfortunately, many members of the body of Christ practice it! Many members of the church of Christ seem to think that they cannot be lost; they seem to believe that they can live just as they please and still be saved in that everylasting kingdom of our Lord just be- cause they are members of the church of Christ. Truly, one must be a member of the Lord's church to be saved in heaven. But, just being a member of His church is no assurance that that one will be saved eternally in heaven. Every member of God's house must be faithful to the Father to be saved. Faith, whether the faith of an alien sinner, or of a child of God, is dead if it does not work. How dead? Just as dead as a body is dead without the spirit, and that is mighty dead! A body without the spirit is so dead that regardless of how much it is loved, ere long after it is dead, it is buried. "For as the body with- out the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (Jas. 2:26). "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6). I do not say that one who is saved from his alien sins by obedience to the gospel can return to his former state, or con- dition. But, I say that if one goes back to the pollutions of the world and serves Satan after obeying the gospel to become a child of God, he will be in a worse condition than he was before he obeyed the gospel! The reason that I say this is because Peter said it, "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousne- ss, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy comman- dment delivered unto them" (2 Pet. 2:20,21). Just the book of Hebrews ought to convince anyone that it is possible for a child of God to become unfaithful and conseq- uently be lost, unless that unfaithfulness is repented of. In fact, any one of the many passages in Hebrews which show the poss- ibility of falling from grace, ought to be convincing. Read the following passages, all of which are in the Hebrew epistle, and see if you think a child of God can be lost. Space does not per- mit an explanation of these passages; but really they are too plain to need any explanation. Besides this, what they say is worth far more than all that I might say about them. Here are the passages as are found in the American Standard Version of the Bible. Take time to read each and everyone of them: Heb. 2:1-3; 3:1,6,8,12-14; 4:1,11; 6:4-6; 10:23,28,29; 12:15,25; 13:9. Besides the foregoing passages there are hundreds of other similar passages in God's Word which likewise teach that child- ren of God can become unfaithful and be lost. It is manifest that the apostles preached that children of God can apostatize. Paul said: "But though we, or an angel from heaven should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema (accursed)" (Gal. 1:8). There are thous- ands of preachers who are called "good mixers," "jolly good fellows," "good neighbors" and who even answer to the title of "reverend" and are called good preachers, etc., but they teach the damnable heresy that children of God cannot so sin as to be finally lost. God does not say let them be called "good mixers," "Reverend," etc., but He says "let them be accursed." God help us all to preach just what the apostles preached. It is not preach- ing that saves, but that which is preached. For people to be sav- ed, the gospel that the apostles preached must still be preached to them and that gospel certainly teaches the possibility of apost- asy for children of God. ---- Basil Overton in The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 10, August, 1952. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090303/8dd24c8d/attachment-0001.html From kerux at bellsouth.net Tue Mar 3 07:17:55 2009 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 08:17:55 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] A>Consider The Cost First To Lessen The Debt Later (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: <5379592D683E4DB398EBA9979D529F00@D2381J91> Consider The Cost First To Lessen The Debt Later (Kent Heaton) The burden of debt robs happiness and joy from life. In our economic crisis our world has been propelled into a dark period of hardship, sadness and depression. As many have spent their time enjoying whatever the heart finds to do the day of reckoning brings about the reality of life unbridled. Free spending of temporary wealth has plunged untold families into financial nightmares. Thousands have lost their homes, jobs and joy of life. Insurmountable debts are brought about by not given due consideration to the cost; throwing aside caution and wisdom to enjoy the passing pleasures of life. Reality is the wake-up call that for every action there must be a reaction. But we do not speak of the spending of money - we speak of the spending of lives marred by sin. Paul reminds us that "whatever a man sows, this he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7). When we spend our lives enjoying whatever the heart finds to do there will be a day when the harvest will be gathered. It seems joyful for the moment but then reality settles in and the debt of sin overwhelms the soul. Eve thought that a little taste of the forbidden fruit would be enjoyable and she also gave some to her husband (Genesis 3:6). But then their eyes were opened and it was too late. They were ashamed and fearful at what they had done. The nature of immorality is that it looks appetizing and appealing and fun; and we must know there is a hunger and desire that is pleasant and enjoyable. In those moments when Adam and Eve tasted the fruit there was enjoyment and pleasure. It was the aftertaste that changed their minds. Immorality is a tempting fruit of desire that brings fulfillment but for a moment. The aftertaste is a life of guilt, sadness, despair and ruin for the loss of innocence, purity and holiness before God. Wisdom suggests that a clear picture of sin must be understood in the debt that will become a burden hard to bear. The crafty woman of Proverbs 7 is one that entices the young man with all the finery of her day and the alluring speech enticing his heart to lay with her. "With her many persuasions she entices him; with her flattering lips she seduces him. Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, so he does not know that it will cost him his life. Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth. Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths. For many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are all her slain. Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death" (Proverbs 7:21-27). The cost is the slaughter of ones life and what a high price is paid. If wisdom had been the guiding path and the cost would have been counted the young man would not have passed near her street (Proverbs 7:6-20). The proverb writer goes on to say that "the fear of the Lord is to hate evil" (Proverbs 8:13). Hating evil is to stay far away from it and counting the cost of coming near to evil. "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). Consider the debt of sin before paying the ultimate price. "Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched" (Proverbs 6:27-28). Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com Audio Sermons Available www.northfloridabiblecamp.com REGISTRATION NOW OPEN July 26 - August 1, 2009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090303/3ee4ac9f/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Mar 4 02:57:20 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 03:57:20 EST Subject: [Biblemat] S) PAUL'S SONS (1) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. PAUL'S SONS (1) The relationship of Timothy and Titus to Paul as sons is spiri- tual, legitimate and true -- "legitimately born, not spurious," says Thayer, pg. 119. They were true sons. Paul said Timothy was "a true child in the faith," showing the sphere in which this relation- ship existed -- naming the where -- "in the faith" (1 Tim. 1:2). Likewise, he writes Titus saying, "my true child in a common faith" (Titus 1:4). This direct statement acknowledges the acces- sibility -- the faith is common, available to all, as stated by Jesus in giving the worldwide commission to the apostles. Before the brethren in Judea met Paul, "...they kept hearing, 'He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy'" (Gal. 1:23). The gospel or faith preach- ed is the seed that made Timothy and Titus true sons. There is no other way to become a true son (1 Pet. 1:22-25) as sonship is according to this common faith. Timothy is identified by name twenty-four times in the New Testament and Titus twelve. Such a fatehr and son relationship is very binding, and should be guarded and honored. Generational Faith Building: -- Timothy's grandmother, Lois, had unfeigned (lack of hypocrisy) faith as did his mother, Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5). Sincere faith fins opportunities to share with others, especially from godly mothers and grandmothers to their offspri- ng. The expression, a "the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world," is difficult to deny. The impacting spiritual influence of a consistent mother and grandmother has much to do in molding character and quality of children. Paul tells Timothy he is per- suaded thsi faith was in him as well as in his mother and grand- mother. These ladies were able to teach Timothy the truth thou- gh his father was a Greek and obviously not a believer (Acts 16:1). Timothy was not circumcised prior to his becoming a Christian, and this indicates his father was not a proselyte. So, it appears his education in Old Testament Scriptures was totally from the training of his mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 3:15). Paul urged Timothy to continue (abide) in the teaching he had learned (2 Tim. 3:14). This practice develops character and strength, and prevents apostasy. It is a waste to learn the essen- tials for godly living and the way to heaven and then cease doing God's will (2 Pet. 2:20-22). Doctrinal teaching must be stressed in the home, Bible classes, and the pulpit to expect faithfulness. Blessed assurance rests in knowing the truth and living it. Each Christian, particularly young people, needs the strengthening influences from others in doctrinal and moral aut- hority to escape the tragedy of seducers leading us astray. Tim- othy was told if he would put the brethren in mind of these things he would be a good servant of Christ (1 Tim. 4:6). He was solemnly charged in the presence of God to maintain these principles without bias (1 Tim. 5:21). One's teaching and preaching must be clear and distinctive to convince and motivate others to stand where they belong in service in the kingdom. Give us examples in teaching and preac- hing that demonstrate conviction for values that transcend time; we neither desire nor can afford the cheap and silly messages so void of the saving power of God (Rom. 1:16,17). There are no acceptable substitutes for truth to accomplish the purposes of God with man, and we, as teachers, must faithfully stay in the fields that are white unto harvest as Paul instructed Timothy (2 Tim. 2:2; Matt. 9:37ff). (More will be posted on this subject tomo- rrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090304/7982de45/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Mar 4 02:56:57 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 03:56:57 EST Subject: [Biblemat] A) BUT I'M NOT RICH Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Wednesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: BUT I'M NOT RICH From the standpoint of material wealth, Americans have diffi- culty realizing how rich they really are. Until you have had oppo- rtunity to travel in third world countries, you cannot imagine how the vast majority of the world really lives. Are you rich? You may not think so, but reconsider as you see the following point made by Robert Heilbroner, who studies world conditions of the poor. Do this test: 1. Take out all of the furniture in your home except for one table and a couple of chairs. Use blankets and pads for beds. 2. Take away all of your clothing except for your oldest dress of suit, shirt or blouse. Leave only one pair of shoes. 3. Empty the pantry and refrigerator except for a small bag of flour, some surgar and salt, a few potatoes, some onions and a dish of dried beans. 4. Dismantle the bathrooms, shut off the running water, and remove all the electrical wiring in your house. 5. Take away the house itself, and move the family into the tool shed. 6. Place your "house" in shantytown. 7. Cancel all subscriptions to newspapers, magazines, and book clubs. This is no great loss, because none of you can read anyway. 8. Leave only one radio for the whole shantytown. 9. Throw away your bankbooks, stock certificates, pension plans, and insurance policies. Leave the family a cash hoard of ten dollars. 10. Move the nearest hospital or clinic ten miles away and put a mid-wife in charge instead of a doctor. 11. Give the head of the family a few acres to cultivate on which he can raise a few hundred dollars of cash crops, of which 1/3 will go to the landlord and a tenth to the money lenders. 12. Lop off 25 years of life expectancy. Pretty sobering isn't it? Made me want to sing the song, "Count Your Blessings" over and over again. Then I read the story of the Good Samaritan and realized I must use my "wealth" for others too. ------ Rick Lanning in Teaching Truth, Mar. 1, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090304/c7feca6f/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Mar 5 02:47:30 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 03:47:30 EST Subject: [Biblemat] S) PAUL'S SONS (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second and final installment of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. PAUL'S SONS (2) Mentoring A Worthy Young Man: -- Paul deeply loved Timothy and called him "my true child in the faith," "my child Timothy," "my beloved child," and "my beloved and faithful child in the Lord" (1 Cor. 4:17). Perhaps, Timothy was from Lystra where Paul was stoned and left for dead on his first tour of preaching from Antioch, Syria. It was here that the sorrowing disciples gathered around Paul, and it is altogether possible that Timothy was in that number believing him dead (Acts 14:20); an exciting time for a young man yet in his teens (?). Paul later recalls his tears (2 Tim. 1:4). Timothy was a true convert and at Paul's dis- posal from his visit to Lystra on his second journey to his death - approximately seventeen years. Timothy enjoyed a good reputation, being "well reported of by the brethren" (Acts 16:2). This reflects his knowing the Script- ures from childhood which his mother and grandmother taught him (2 Tim. 3:14,15). When he left home going with Paul on his second tour to preach (Acts 16:3), Paul had him circumcised to prevent hindering the gospel in order to reach the Jews. Paul wanted Timothy top be a good gospel preacher (1 Tim. 1:18-20; 4:6-16; 5:21; 6:11,20,21). Because of agitation by Thessalonian Jews, Paul went to Athens, and calls for Timothy and Silas to come with all speed (Acts 17:10-16), and from here he sent him to Thessalonica to establish and comfort the disciples (1 Thes. 3:2), being success- ful in it (vss. 6-8). He then returns to Greece, preaching Jesus the Son of God (Acts 18:5; 2 Cor. 1:19). Timothy was with Paul on his third journey, worshiping with him at Troas (Acts 20:7), and apparently accompanied him to Jer- usalem. He gave Paul and the Lord his best; when other waver- ed, he was faithful. Paul urged him, saying, "O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you..." (1 Tim. 6:20), and when the true test came, Paul said, "I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the fur- therance of the gospel like a child serving his father" (Phil. 2:20- 22). He behaved himself so that no one would look down on him as a mere youth (Worthless old men readily do so," says Bengal), so as to be an example in word, manner of life, love, spirit, faith, and purity (1 Tim. 4:12), and this earned Paul's confi- dence and respect. He was not a "know it all," but could receive instruction about his personality and disposition (2 Tim. 1:7,8;2: 1,3). He unashamedly served Christ, standing with Paul in the drama of warfare demanded in God's revelation. He remained faithful whe Demas forsook the work (2 Tim. 4:10), refused to be sidetracked with vain babblings or wrangles (2 Tim. 2:14), and stood unmoved at Paul's side when Alexander the coppersmith did him much harm (2 Tim. 4:14,15). This excellent young preacher believed as did his teacher, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom..." (2 Tim. 4:18). What a son! -------------- Earl Robertson in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 6, June 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090305/fe6103b5/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Mar 5 02:51:05 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 03:51:05 EST Subject: [Biblemat] A) "LIVE YOUR PRAYERS" Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is a poem concerning prayer. Taken from my files: "LIVE YOUR PRAYERS" I knelt to pray when day was done And prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone, Lift from each saddened heart the pain And let the sick be well again. And then I woke another day And carelessly went on my way, The whole day long I did not try To wipe a tear from any eye. I did not try to share the load Of any brother on the road, I did not even go to see The sick man just next door to me. Yet once again when day was done I prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone." But as I prayed, into my ear there came a voice that whispered clear. "Pause now, my child before you pray. Whom have you tried to bless today? God's sweetest blessings always go by hands that serve Him here below." And then I hid my face and cried, "Forgive me, God, I have not tried. But let me live another day and I will live the way I pray." Author Unknown -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090305/5507fa1e/attachment.html From kerux at bellsouth.net Thu Mar 5 13:53:16 2009 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 14:53:16 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] A>He Arose (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: <0052C8024DAF4592B9BC9C6C9072E72B@D2381J91> He Arose (Kent Heaton) As the moon began to set over the valley of the Kidron and darkness enveloped Gethsemane, a great multitude of Romans soldiers, chief priests, scribes and elders of the people with lanterns, swords and clubs descended upon a lone figure awaiting the kiss of his betrayer. Having bound his hands behind him, they clapped an iron chain about his neck, and with that dragged him along. In the early hours of the morning Jesus was taken before Caiaphas and the Sandhedrin. The guards blindfolded Jesus, spat upon him and struck him in the face with their fists. They scream at him; yelling and cursing at him with contempt; berating him with loud shouts of hatred. Outside stood his beloved apostle Peter who cursed and denied he knew the Lord; The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And through the flickering light of a midnight fire the eyes of two men shared the anguish of a broken heart; one who knew he had denied his Lord; the other whose love for Peter was broken for the frailty of human courage. Later, Jesus was bound and taken before the Roman magistrates. Entering the Praetorium Pilate examines the beaten prisoner before him and having no charges against Jesus sends him to Herod Antipas. The chief priests and the scribes vehemently accuse Jesus. He stood quietly saying not a word. Displeased that Jesus would not answer him, Herod [was very abusive to him: He, with his men of war, his attendants, and officers, and great men . laughed at him as a fool . arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, some gaudy painted clothes, as a mock-king.] Ten thousand angels stood ready to revenge - but silence came from Heaven. Returning to Pilate, Jesus once again endured the grueling torture of the crowd as they shouted, "crucify him, crucify him, let him be crucified." Bowing to the wishes of the threatening mob, Pilate released Jesus to be scourged. The soldiers stripped the clothing of Jesus and tied his hands to an upright post stained with the blood and flesh of those who shared in the horror of what was about to befall Jesus. The soldiers took up a short whip and begin beating the back, buttocks and legs of Jesus. Time and again the whip tore into the back of Jesus causing deep bruises. The bones cut into his skin ripping and tearing and shredding the flesh. Searing pain rippled through his body. Ribbons of bleeding flesh produced quivering shock waves of intense pain as his head felt like it would explode. The band of soldiers numbering almost 600 - amused that this weakened man had claimed to be a king - mock him to scorn. They fashion a crown of thorns; put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment. They laugh at him and say, "Hail, King of the Jews" . and they struck him with their hands. They mock and ridicule one last time the one who was about to be crucified. Placing a reed in his right hand; they kneel before him and mock him. They begin to salute him and make fun of him and laugh at him and scorn him. They spit in his face and take the reed from his hand; hitting him repeatedly in the head yelling, laughing and cursing at this one who claimed to be a king. As the spit ran down the face of Jesus mingled with blood; his knees trembling under the weight of a fleshly body that had been weakened by blood loss, sleeplessness, hunger and shock; the Son of God said nothing. Ten thousand angels stood ready to revenge - but silence came from Heaven. Finding no more sport in their mockery of Jesus, they lead him out to be crucified. Placing the cross upon his back, searing pain flows through his body as the rough wood bore into his already bleeding flesh. Weakened beyond his ability to carry such a load, the soldiers compelled one Simon of Cyrene to bear the cross. The noise of the city filled the ears of Jesus as he stumbled his way through the streets. A great multitude of people followed, wailing and lamenting for Jesus as he was taken to Golgotha; the place of a skull. The stench of death lay heavy upon the hill. At the place of execution the cross piece was taken from Simon and placed upon the ground. The soldiers throw Jesus to the ground with his arms outstretched along the coarse piece of wood. Taking iron spikes about six inches long, a soldier surgically drives the nails into his hands; sending intense pain throughout the arm and upper body and fireballs of excruciating horror to the brain ; causing the hand itself to draw up in a claw like fashion. The pain Jesus experiences accelerates 1000 fold. Lifting him up upon the stipe placed in the ground the searing pain of his bloody back and crippled hands sends rivers of hot pain throughout his body. The same procedure is conducted with his feet as iron nails are driven through the top of each foot to secure them to the cross; slightly bent in the knees to perfect the suffering the victim would endure just to breathe. The crucifixion was complete. Writhing in unbelievable and unbearable pain, Jesus lifts himself with each breath; scraping his torn back upon the timber of his death. Standing with tears flowing from her eyes Mary stood silent. Ten thousand angels stood ready to revenge - but silence came from Heaven. Around noon the sky grew dark and the sun fails to shine upon this scene of death. Every moment for Jesus is an eternity of unbearable pain as his body begins to slowly die. Around 3:00pm Jesus cried out with a loud voice, strained as the final moments of life gave him strength to cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me." Moments later he whispered from burning lips, "It is finished . Father into thy hands I commend my spirit." In a moment; in the twinkling of an eye; the agony and suffering and tears and sorrow of Jesus vanished. In death Jesus was released from that mortal prison that caused him to partake of flesh and blood. Angels carry the Son of God to the bosom of Abraham in Paradise. The multitudes leave Golgotha returning to their homes with wails of sorrow. Jesus' mother breaks down in tearful sadness at the cruel death of her son; yet the joy of knowing it was with purpose. A soldier pierces the side of Jesus to confirm his death. Jesus did not feel that blow - for victory had already been granted him by the Father. Some time later, as Jesus hung upon the cross; his body limp in death; mangled by the horror of scourging and crucifixion; two men approached with permission to secure the body. Soldiers remove the nails from the feet of Jesus and place him on the ground. Pulling the nails from his hands the soldiers give the body to Joseph and Nicodemus. The view of Heaven now turns to two men who carry the body of Jesus to a tomb nearby. The men look upon the face of their Lord now ashen in death. Nicodemus reflects upon that wonderful time he shared with Jesus in the night discussing the new birth - and yet now they unite in death. Joseph and Nicodemus begin to prepare the body. They see his hands that healed the infirmed - now still. They look upon his pierced side where the heart of the Lord showed compassion to all who knew him - now stained with blood and water. They wash his feet as humble servants. The voice that raised the dead - is now silent. They wash his hands - still fresh from the wounds of the nails. As they roll him on his side to prepare for the linen cloths - they look upon his back shredded in ribbons of mangled flesh. Tears flow from their eyes as they bind the Lord in linen cloths with spices. With time not allowing - they carry the body of Jesus to a nearby tomb. They gently place him inside and put a napkin over his face. Leaving the tomb they roll a great stone against the door and return home. Their hearts are filled with great sadness. Their minds are racing with questions that can not be answered for the voice of the Lord is silent. The new day dawns upon the Sabbath. This Sabbath is a very sad day for all the disciples can think of is the horrible death of their teacher, their Lord. The day drags on in slow moments of time. Prayers are offered; stories recounted of the miracles of Jesus; His words numbered again and again through the lips of his disciples. In a place unknown Peter is crushed under the weight of his own denial of the Lord; his heart rending with grief. As if in a moment of time in the whisper of eternity the early morning dawns upon the FIRST day of the week. "Up from the grave He arose With a mighty triumph o'er His foes; He arose a victor from the dark domain; And He lives forever with His saints to reign; He arose; He arose; Hallelujah Christ arose." Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com Audio Sermons Available www.northfloridabiblecamp.com REGISTRATION NOW OPEN July 26 - August 1, 2009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090305/6534ed1a/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Mar 6 02:46:16 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 03:46:16 EST Subject: [Biblemat] A) ALMOST Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless y ou and yours. Here is an artic- le from my files: ALMOST Have you ever heard the old proverb, "Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades?" Think about it. In horse- shoes you can score a point even if you don't get a "ringer." Whoever gets the shoe closest to the stake can score. You just have to "almost" get there. Same holds true for hand grenades. You don't have to actually hit the enemy with the explosive weap- on, just get it in the area ("almost" there) and let its power do the rest. Almost doesn't count for much in most areas of life. Try jumping over a 100 foot hole and almost making it. You're dead. Try landing a plane and almost making the runway. You're dead. Try to be saved from your sins and almost getting there. You're dead. Paul said so. "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persua- de me to become a Christian." And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains" (Acts 26:27-29). (We sing a song: "Almost Persuaded". The chorus tells us, "Almost Persuaded, Almost But Lost." JWS) Paul knew you can't "almost" be saved. You can't repent of your sins then fail to "be baptized for the remission of your sins" (Acts 2:38). And still be saved. Like King Agrippa, he who is almost persuaded is almost saved, but to be almost saved is to be altogether lost! As the song, mentioned, says: "Almost per- suaded, harvest is past. Almost persuaded doom comes at last. Almost cannot avail, Almost is but to fail, Sad, sad that bitter wail, Almost but lost!" ----- Rick Lanning in Teaching Truth, Mar. 1, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090306/f9ddd4cb/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Mar 6 02:46:31 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 03:46:31 EST Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE DARK PATH OF BITTERNESS. Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. THE DARK PATH OF BITTERNESS How is it possible for Satan to defeat and capture a child of God who had previously escaped his grasp? Satan is exposed in the Bible for the deceiver he is. Jesus described him as having "no truth in him" and as being a "liar and the father of it" (Jno. 8:44). While it is inconceivable for a Christian to ever imag- ine homself as willingly placing his life under the control of the "evil one," Satan, in fact, has a strong track record of accompli- shing this very thing. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). Satan's goal is to cut off the word of God from your heart and then drive you by your emotions. The Bible frames the struggle in this way: "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors -- not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live accord- ing to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Rom. 8:12,13). Over the years I have witnessed many of my brethren destroyed in this manner, and the vast majority were overcome with bitterness and anger. There is a place for anger! When Jesus asked a straightforw- ard question and received no reply, He look into their hearts and rsponded in this way: "And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts... " (Mk. 3:5). My Lord was angry, but my Lord never sinned. There is a place for anger when it is under control and directed by the principles of God's Word. "Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil" (Eph. 4:26,27). We need to be angry when we see sin! But always remember this warning: "do not let the sun go down on your wrath," because a failure to do so will give the devil a place in your heart. And be assured, he will take advantage of it. Why do so many of my brethren not take uncontrolled anger seriously? I know of too many men that laugh about their temp- er and others who laugh with them saying "that's just the way he is." What does the Bible say? "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abid- ing in him" (1 Jno. 3;15). Does this verse get your attention? My eternal life is no laughing matter and anything that could come between my God and me has my attention. Consider the works of the flesh: "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornicatin, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, out- bursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21). Did you notice the "anger family" in this passage? While we hear many good sermons on immorality and false doctrine, do we hear that same emphasis on uncontrolled anger? Remember "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." The Bible plainly tells us of the difficulty of controlling our anger. "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city" (Prov. 16:32). Moses was commended by God above all others for his ability to control his spirit (meekness -- Num. 12:2 ASV), but in a moment of anger he spoke rashly and thus sinned. "They angered him also at the waters of strife, So that it went ill with Moses on account of them; Because they rebelled against his spirit, So that he spoke rashly with his lips" (Psa. 106:32,33). Whild Moses went to the ultimate Promised Land of God, heaven he was not able to enter the physical Promised Land because of this one moment of anger. When we begin to dwell on our hurts and nourish our anger, we are placing ourselves firmly in the hands of Satan. Have you ever tried to reason with an angry person? When you give in to a life of anger you also give up your ability to reason. "A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle" (Prov. 18:19). The corrupt politician and the false teacher specialize in slander designed to shut down the thinking process. There are many Christians that I have known who, because of their anger towards a man, have quit serving God. What sense does that make? It is like getting mad at the dog and kicking the cat! In short, your anger will make you behave as a crazy person, unwilling to listen or reason, and ready to fight anyone or anything that gets in the way of your desire for revenge. Local churches have been devastated by just one man who plants seeds of bitterness. We are warned in the Scriptures to be "Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled" (Heb. 12:15). Bitter people often try to build their own personal kingdoms that one has described as "the fellowship of the miserable." You will be received and flatter- ed by this group as long as you hate whoever the leader hates. I personally have been attacked by such groups for doing noth- ing more than showing kindness to someone that was an object of another's rage. Bitter people will be lost if they do not repent. The greatest evangelists for Satan today are those Christians who plant the seeds of hatred in the church of our Lord. In time bitter people will burn themselves out and their king- doms will disband. Sometimes the bitter person will repent and return to the grace of God. Sadly, however, they often are unable to reverse the effects of the angry seeds they planted in the hearts of those that were closest to them. It is in the lives of their friends, and especially in their children, that the harshest fruits of planted bitterness will be seen There is a better way. "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clam- or, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:31,32). You will never regret releasing the desire for vengeance upon those who have hurt you. Our God has plead- ed with us in this regard: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord" (Rom. 12:19). Do you really believe in God? Are you really a Christian, will- ing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus? Look carefully at the specific footsteps our God has placed before us: "For to this you were called, because Christ also sufferec for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps; Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Pet. 2;21-23). The next time you are tempted to inflict punish- ment upon your enemy, I hope you will remember the pleading voice of God where He said, "vengeance is Mine." If you really trust God, then you will let it go. Please do not allow Satan to do his work through you. ------ Larry Rouse via Gospel Power, Vol. 16, No. 4, Jan. 25, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090306/8c3bcc1d/attachment.html From GLClair at aol.com Fri Mar 6 17:30:28 2009 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 18:30:28 EST Subject: [Biblemat] Acts 2:38 - What does it mean? Message-ID: Acts 2:38 - what does it mean? There is a continuing controversy about the verse of Scripture listed in the heading. There are many different views about phrases and words in the Bible that seemingly cannot be solved. Perhaps the reason that these controversial verses cannot be agreed upon by men is their unwillingness to accept the facts pertaining to the interpretation. I mean that there are many people who take issue with those of insisting that baptism is a burial in water. There are also many people who take issue with the Greek language whenever it is translated correctly about the matter of baptism?s purpose. The purpose of baptism according to the Apostle Peter?s sermon on Pentecost Day (i.e. inspired by God) in Acts 2:38 as stated is; ?For the remission of sins.? A NEED TO BE HONEST There are many religious people that will not honestly look at the evidence from the Greek translators and Greek scholars who understand the nature of Hebrew and Greek words. I am not a Greek specialist but the Greek lexicons and scholarly works are presented to us in such a way that I do not understand how or why everyone cannot see and understand the English translations and translators as using true and honest men in the process of translating the Hebrew and Greek languages into the English Language accurately. Part of the problem with misunderstandings relating to words and phrases translated from Hebrew and Greek into English has to do with a few religious translators (i.e. belonging to a specific religious branch) who compromise their scholarship for their religious belief. This is possibly the number one cause among differing religious persuasions regarding acceptance of good translations of the text into English. AN HONEST EXAMINATION OF ACTS 2:38 Acts 2:38, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV) The part of the verse that we want to examine is underlined in the KJV text ? above. ?? and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins?? 1) Meaning of the word ?baptized? NT:907 baptizo (bap-tid'-zo); from a derivative of NT:911; to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: KJV - Baptist, baptize, wash. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ? 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.) 2) Meaning of ?for? NT:1519 eis (ice); a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases: KJV - [abundantly-], against, among, as, at, [back-] ward, before, by, concerning, continual, far more exceeding, for [intent, purposefore],, forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, of one mind, never, of, (up-) on, perish, set at one again, (so) that, therefore (-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-) until (-to), ... ward, [wherefore-], with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively). (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ? 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.) Repentance and Baptism Whenever a person looks at the verse (i.e. Acts 2:38). It is impossible to get something out of the verse other than the clear translation in context by the translators of the KJV and the ASV. To find another meaning to the two words examined in this article is to do injustice to the Greek Language (Koine) and the English Language also. In my estimation the repentance + baptism are both for (eis ? ?ice?) the same purpose (salvation from sin). Consequently, any other interpretation placed on these words or this text is unwarned. Not only is it unwanted it is a violation of the Divine injunction to add nothing or take anything away from the Word of God (i.e. the Bible). _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) Friday, March 06, 2009 SEE ALSO: considermagazine.com **************Worried about job security? Check out the 5 safest jobs in a recession. (http://jobs.aol.com/gallery/growing-job-industries?ncid=emlcntuscare00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090306/622f36c9/attachment.html From tedwards at onemain.com Fri Mar 6 19:42:53 2009 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:42:53 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 3/1/09 Message-ID: <49B17CBD.3258.19FA044@localhost> ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ March 1, 2009 ____________________________________________________ What Lack I Yet? by Irvin Himmel A wealthy young man once approached Jesus with this question: "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" Jesus reminded him of some of the commands of the law to which he needed to give attention, and he responded, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" (Matt. 19:16-20). Jesus knew precisely what was lacking in this young ruler's life. Despite his being well acquainted with the law, the young man's attachment to worldly possessions had a solid grip on him. Like the insect on the glueboard, he thought he had something but in reality it had him! The master told him to sell what he had, give it to the poor, "and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." You and I need to think soberly and regularly about what may be lacking in our lives. There may be one thing in particular that is a deficiency. Do I Lack Obedience to the Gospel? There are some folks who have numerous commendable traits. They are good neighbors, morally upright, friendly and likeable, but they need to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38). All have sinned (Rom. 3:23), and nothing but the blood of Christ can atone for sins. Moral goodness will not remit anyone's sins. The best of good people have sinned and need to turn to Christ in submission to the gospel. Examine the case of Cornelius in Acts 10 and 11. Associating with Christians will not automatically make one righteous. Being married to a child of God will not in itself transfer one into the family of God. Attending church services will not guarantee citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. Listening to the preaching of the gospel will not avail unless that preaching produces faith which prompts obedience. The soul is purified when one obeys the truth (1 Pet. 1:22). In the absence of obedience there is no promise of salvation from sin. Do I Lack Diligent Study? Some who have been baptized into Christ show no signs of growth. They are failing to feed their souls on the pure word of God which enables spiritual development (1 Pet. 2:2). They need to show more interest in assembling with saints, participating in Bible classes, and in private reading and studying of the Scriptures. They need to devote more time to meditating on God's enduring word. They are a reminder of the people described in Hebrews 5:12. Commonly, weak Christians make the lame excuse that they do not have time to study. What about the hours they spend in watching TV, reading newspapers, engaging in recreational activities, surfing the Internet, etc.? It is a fact that most of us manage to find the time to do whatever we set our hearts on doing. There is no shortcut to gaining Bible knowledge. One must be willing to apply himself to serious, steady, and systematic searching of the Scriptures. Do I Lack Prayer? Jesus said that "men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). "Pray without ceasing," said Paul (1 Thess. 5:17). The Christian is to be "instant in prayer" (Rom. 12:12). How much better things would be if we would replace grumbling and bickering with prayer. We are taught to avoid anxiety, and "in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6). Worry weakens; prayer has power. The sinless Savior prayed when baptized by John (Luke 3:21). He arose early in the morning, a great while before day, departing into a solitary place, and prayed (Mark 1:35). He "continued all night in prayer to God" before the selection of the apostles (Luke 6:12-16). He "went up into a mountain to pray" when the transfiguration occurred (Luke 9:28-36). He prayed in Gethsemane with a heavy heart, burdened with sorrow and agony (Matt. 26:36-44). He prayed on the cross (Luke 23:34). Who can be his true follower without learning to pray? Do I Lack Patience? Some Christians endure for a while then grow weary. "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy" (Jas. 5:11). There must be "patient continuance in well doing" if we seek for glory, honor, and immortality (Rom. 2:7). One must not allow "burnout" to destroy his soul. Let us be refreshed in spirit through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with God. We need patience in teaching others. There are times when we move too fast, pressing for immediate results. Correcting conditions that need to be changed requires much patience. Paul urged Timothy to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (2 Tim. 4:2, NASB). The words of Hebrews 10:36 are a timely reminder: "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." No patience, no promise. Do I Lack Courage? John the Baptist was not devoid of courage. Although Herod was a powerful ruler, John boldly spoke against his adulterous marriage. "It is not lawful for thee to have her," said John (Matt. 14:4). He did not follow the path of some modern preachers by attempting to find a way to "okay" Herod's sinful marriage. The beheading of John bears testimony that courage can lead to costly consequences. On the other hand, one who is too cowardly to stand on the Lord's side faces consequences of greater magnitude. Courage is firmness of mind and depth of conviction which empowers one to face dangers and discouragements without wavering. Stephen displayed remarkable courage in Acts 7 by "telling it like it is," knowing that his own life was on the line. Peter and John showed courage when they were beaten, threatened, and told not to preach any more in the name of Jesus (Acts 5:40-42). The life of Paul is replete with examples of courage. The gospel challenges people to come to Christ and evince courage. Do I Lack Zeal? Many disciples of Jesus in this modern age need a greater degree of fervency, enthusiasm, devotion, zest, and energy. Resemblance to the lukewarm Laodiceans (Rev. 3:15-19) reveals complacency and apathy. Little enthusiasm is shown toward the work of the church. There is no real spark of energy in reaching out with the gospel. Warmth is noticeably lacking. A spirit of indifference prevails. Zeal is contagious. Paul remarked to the Corinthians that "your zeal hath provoked very many" (2 Cor. 9:2). Of course, zeal must be properly directed. The Israelites had "a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge" (Rom. 10:2). Some cultists show extraordinary zeal, yet they are without knowledge, consequently they consume their energy in behalf of false religion. Conversely, some who know the truth lack the zeal and commitment to fulfill the demands of true religion. Do I Lack Love? In the absence of love, eloquent speech becomes no more than a clanging cymbal, intellectual attainments are valueless, benevolence is without advantage to the giver, and martyrdom profits nothing (1 Cor. 13:1-3). Love is the hallmark of devotion to Christ. "Let all that you do be done in love" (1 Cor. 16:14, NASB). Jesus said, "if ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10). Brotherly love is commanded. It is a mark of genuine discipleship. The Master said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). Gospel preachers are not exempt from the command to love one another. Misrepresentations, personal attacks, demeaning innuendoes, derogatory dictums, and vilifications do not mirror love. The truth can be spoken in love (Eph. 4:15) without being watered down and without compromise. Conclusion The rich young ruler went away sorrowful when told what he lacked and what he needed to do to supply what was missing. The realization of what we lack should spur us to work on overcoming our deficiency. Instead of being sad and going away grieved, let us draw closer to the Lord and make our calling and election sure. -- Via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 8 p20 April 20, 2000 ____________________________________________________ CHURCH OF CHRIST 201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn) Denham Springs, LA 70726 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 tedwards at onemain.com http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go DIRECTIONS: Take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) off of I-12. At the end of the exit ramp, turn north. Go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, and two other gas stations; with each on each corner.) Turn left on Rushing Road, and go less then 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on the right. We assemble in its meeting room, which is very close to the reception counter. ____________________________________________________ From jwquinn at sbcglobal.net Sat Mar 7 10:01:46 2009 From: jwquinn at sbcglobal.net (Jon W. Quinn) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 10:01:46 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Expository Files 16.3 (March) Now Available Message-ID: Our 16th year of publication (1994-2009) Expository Files - March 2009 **Our 183rd monthly issue** Expository Files is a monthly electronic journal dedicated to Biblical studies. It is edited by Warren E Berkley and Jon W. Quinn. This effort began with the January, 1994 issue and continues to this day. In addition to the four or so expository articles by different writers in each issue, there are special topical studies. In addition, each issue begins and ends with editorials by the editors. We have expository material from every book in the Bible, though there are still portions that are much more lightly covered than others. Thanks to our writers and our readers for making Expository Files such a success! ---------------------------------------------------------- Expository Files 16.3; March 2009 Co-edited by Warren E. Berkley and Jon W. Quinn ---------------------------------------------------------- This month's issue contains: The Front Page 16.3 Will The Shadow Do? By Warren E. Berkley Want to Learn Something Vital About Giving? Luke 6:35 By Warren E. Berkley Acts 15 and Authority Acts 15 By David Smitherman That's Very Tempting ?...if you are the Son of God... " Matthew 4:1-11 By Jon W. Quinn The Lost Parables of Jesus Luke 15 By Ed Barnes Sin is All About Choices Topical Article By Jonathan L. Perz Plan of Salvation The Final Page 16.3 By Jon W. Quinn Directions for Discipleship in a Fallen World ---------------------------------------------------------- EF can be found at the following places: http://www.bible.ca/ef/ Every issue - 1994 to present; every article; html; arranged by book; topic and/or issue; Search engine http://expositoryfiles.homestead.com/index.html 2004-2006 in html by issue; 1994-2003 in zipped self executable format for IBM http://www.geocities.com/w_berkley/ EF in PDF by issue; Sept 2003 to present ===== Jon W. Quinn jwquinn at sbcglobal.net Bradley Church of Christ __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (2) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar MARKETPLACE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- >From kitchen basics to easy recipes - join the Group from Kraft Foods Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity 1New Members Visit Your Group Yahoo! Search Start Searching Find exactly what you want. Yahoo! News Get it all here Breaking news to entertainment news Group Charity Be the Change A citizen movement to change the world . __,_._,___ The Front Page 16.1 Tittle-Tattle By Warren E. Berkley Angels: Second Place Hebrews 1:5-14 By Warren E. Berkley Dealing With Internal Conflict (Acts 6) By Brady Cook A Believer in God 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 By Jon W. Quinn Come Unto Me Matthew 11:28-30 By Ed Barnes Five Things We Need To Remember This Year Topic Page By Don Hooton Plan of Salvation By Jon W. Quinn The Final Page 16.1 Our Strength Jeremiah 7:3-10 By Jon W. Quinn ---------------------------------------------------------- EF can be found at the following places: http://www.bible.ca/ef/ Every issue - 1994 to present; every article; html; arranged by book; topic and/or issue; Search engine http://expositoryfiles.homestead.com/index.html 2004-2006 in html by issue; 1994-2003 in zipped self executable format for IBM http://www.geocities.com/w_berkley/ EF in PDF by issue; Sept 2003 to present ===== Jon W. Quinn jwquinn at sbcglobal.net Bradley Church of Christ http://www.expositoryfiles.homestead.com/ From thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Sat Mar 7 15:11:24 2009 From: thornhill1 at frontiernet.net (thomas thornhill) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 15:11:24 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] The Buckhorn Teacher 3-8-09 Message-ID: THE BUCKHORN TEACHER "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2.Tim.4:2 Buckhorn church of Christ - Thomas Thornhill - editor. 13675 Hwy 341, Randolph MS 38864-9117. Tel. 662-568-2960. Cell 662-419-5378. E-mail thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Vol.7 March 8, 2009 No.21 PRESENT DANGERS FACING THE CHURCH - No.2 If possible refer to the previous article for continuity. N.B. Hardeman, who died in 1965, a well known gospel preacher among the liberal brethren in his day was asked, "In your judgment, what are the four greatest dangers facing the church today?" He replied: 1. A lack of Bible knowledge and a light regard for what it says. 2. A tendency to make the church a social club for entertainment. 3. A disposition to compromise the truth, and discourage its preaching. 4. A love for the praise of men more than the praise of God, lest they put us out of some social organization." Even though Hardeman was speaking to his liberal brethren about these dangers, they are also applicable to the membership of conservative churches of Christ of which I consider the church I labor with as one. As stated in the previous article I will examine each of the dangers Hardeman stated as they affect my brethren. The first danger Hardeman mentioned in his list, "a lack of Bible knowledge and a light regard for what it says" is a nobrainer. Any experienced gospel preacher during the last fifty years knows this to be true for there has been a steady decline of Bible knowledge among the Lord's people. When I began preaching in the 50s members of the church of Christ were known and respected by the religious world as people of the Bible. They were well versed in the scriptures and could quote scripture after scripture, not always because they had made a great effort to memorize (some did), but because they heard them used all the time by the preachers and teachers. It was no problem for many saints, when confronted with error, to ably refute the false teaching (from the denominations or false brethren) with a "thus saith the Lord." Often they would quote the passage that answered the false doctrine, or pull out a copy of the New Testament they happened to be carrying with them and read it to the person. Sadly, this is no longer true today. With all the present day distractions (TV, sports, gossip, etc.) many show little interest in and/or find little time to study the word of God. They know their favorite TV programs and its stars. They can tell you the scores and standings of teams in the sporting world. They are well acquainted with what is going on in the neighborhood, but they know very little about God and His word. They have become Bible illiterates. But this should not have been unexpected. This failure to retain a knowledge of God and respect for His word has endangered the people of God in every dispensation. It was their ignorance of God and a light regard for His word that caused Israel to so quickly turn away from Him after entering the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. It was his generation that brought Israel into the Promised Land. It was Joshua's generation that conquered the land and divided it among the twelve tribes, but they died. When this happened we are told "another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers." Judges 2:10-12. Years later, this light regard for God and His word led to further rebellion. Isaiah observed, ".For the Lord has spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me; The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not consider." Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord; they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away backward" Isa.1:2-4. Later Hosea in pathos wrote, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest to Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children" Hos.4:6. The emboldened emphasis in all three scriptures is mine - t.t. When Paul wrote Romans 1 cataloging the sins that caused God to give man up to uncleanness v.24; to vile passions v.26; to a debased mind v.28 he started with the fact that "even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" vs.21-22. What Paul saw as the root cause of man's downfall was the same thing that Hardeman observed when naming dangers that face the church. "A lack of Bible knowledge and a light regard for what it says." The writer of Hebrews rebuked his brethren because they had "become dull of hearing" and had failed to advance beyond "the first principles." There had been sufficient time for them to become mature in the faith, but they had failed to do so. They were still bottle babies rather than meat eaters. See Heb.5-11-6:1. Yes, the lack of Bible knowledge and a light regard for what it says poses a grave danger to the church as it has to God's people in every generation of man's history. The church that is filled with biblically illiterate members will fall for almost anything people teach. This can easily be seen by any student of Bible history. As someone has said, "If we fail to learn from history, we are destined to repeat it." Don't let this danger destroy us. My prayer for you is the same as Paul's, "that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthily of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" Col.1:9-10. "Continue in the things which have learned and been assured of, know from whom you learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" 2.Tim.3:14-15. "Be diligent to present yourselves approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" 2.Tim.2:15. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090307/aa096ded/attachment.html From tssullivan at charter.net Sat Mar 7 16:45:09 2009 From: tssullivan at charter.net (T. Sean Sullivan) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 16:45:09 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 004 Iss 009 Message-ID: <06E838DAC7A343D281CDED05F61D799F@sean2e3f41f1ba> PDF Version Attached The Messenger 2009 Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ 306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059 Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan VOLUME 004::ISSUE 09: March 08, 2009 This Week's Article: Diligent to Present Yourself Paul's writings, according to the Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 3:15-17, can be difficult to understand. Though difficult, his writings are truth; that we need to live by. The instructions of 2 Timothy 2:15 need to be understood and applied. Paul teaches us that a diligent pursuit of God's word will result in confident servitude and approval before God. How do we use the scriptures properly and as Paul admonishes, "diligently"? We need to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). The term we have translated as "rightly divide" is Orthotomounta: "to cut straight" or "to use properly". Let's consider how this might be done by examining a diligent respect for God's will Respecting Things that are Said by God God has said some things in past-the Old Testament. God spoke through the prophets to the children of Israel. He gave them commands and they were to follow those commands. We can clearly see how serious God was about those commands when we consider: Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2) or Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:1-8), all these men paid for their unauthorized practices with their life. The former things-the Old Testament are done away (Colossians 2:14). Those words are no longer authoritative: we cannot please God by following or practicing the things under the old law (Romans 3:19-24). God gave some new commands for our day. He has accomplished this one specific way. For the period of time known as "the last days" God has spoken through His Son: (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus has revealed God will on the matters of the standard of judgment (John 12:48-50); the way to eternal life (John 6:67-68); generally your life and mine (Matthew 7:21). His recorded word is our instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Without this revealed word we cannot know what is right or what is pleasing to our Creator. Respecting Things that God has NOT Said There are some things that God has not said. God has lead us by the spoken word-recorded-which we must respect and adhere to (James 1:22-25). God has also established a boundary, which must be respected-His silence. Passages like Deuteronomy 17:2-7; Deuteronomy 18:20; Matthew 28:18-20 teach us to follow those things which God has revealed and do only those things which He authorized. Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 4:6 that we are, "not think beyond that which is written." Then John recorded the fact that we must live within the boundaries of Christ's teachings (2 John 9). For some reason man has a hard time respecting God's silence. There are those who say things like, "God didn't say not to". Now when did this ever work in life? The fact is we never expect to have to compile long lists of things not to do just so someone might figure out what to do. We simply tell someone what to do in the first place and the understanding that nothing else is allowed is understood. Why do we want change the rule when it comes to religion? Why would we think God would accept that type or reasoning? This reasoning believes that unless it is outright condemned it is allowed. Our goal must not be looking for things that are not condemned we must search for the things, which are approved (2 Timothy 2:15). The passage does not say, "be diligent to show your self not condemned by God," much rather it says, "be diligent to show yourself approved. " The "Didn't say, 'I couldn't'" is not the right approach not is it rightly dividing the word. How do I know what God Expects? Please understand and keep in mind that you have been using these three points for most of your life. When you have read newspapers, books, magazines; even comic books you have used these means of retrieving the information from the written word. These three points are simply how we get information from any written words. We look for: direct commands or statements-Go, Do, Take, Give, etc. We look for approved examples: those things, which the author offers as instructive examples to help us see the work of commands through real life application. In the Bible we are looking for examples endorsed by the apostles, examples specifically given as instruction and examples that are shown or declared as right. We also look of necessary conclusions: These necessary conclusions can be derived from direct statements, commands or examples. They are conclusions that although they are not directly stated there is no other conclusion to come to. Conclusion: The instructions of 2 Timothy 2:15 need to be understood and applied with diligence. Paul teaches us that a diligent pursuit of God's word will result in confident servitude and approval before God. We are given set parameters in which we must function. Within that frame we have wonderful liberty to live, be happy and be pleasing to God. When God speaks we must listen and respect Him. When God is silent, we must also listen and respect His silence. God has authorized a plan of salvation for all who will respect Him and listen. Are ready to make your life right with God? ~tss If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward this copy to them and send their email address and I will add them to the list. Sean -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090307/ac9fcabd/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 3298 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090307/ac9fcabd/attachment-0002.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 7810 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090307/ac9fcabd/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: The Messenger Email Bulletin 004 009.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 47291 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090307/ac9fcabd/attachment-0001.pdf From crxtra at gmail.com Sat Mar 7 17:00:04 2009 From: crxtra at gmail.com (Steven C. Harper) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 16:00:04 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A> Synonyms of Faith [2] Message-ID: <000001c99f78$74f672d0$5ee35870$@com> From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. Editor: Steven Harper March 8, 2009 Synonyms of Faith [2] Last week, we began a series of studies on the meaning of faith [and belief/believe], taking time to consider synonyms for the terms so we might be able to better understand what it means to have faith, or even whether or not we have faith at all. I must reiterate that we are exclusively interested in seeing how God defines the word[s] through its usage in Scripture, and not interested in how man uses or defines it. Man often redefines words to suit his beliefs and/or practices or because of common usage, but not so with God. If we want to be right with God, we can accept no other usage or definition except His. With that said, let us move on to this week's synonym for faith: Trust. In the religious world, there are two basic views about salvation; one declares that God has predetermined who will [and, consequently, who will not] be saved and that doctrine further declares that because He has already determined this, it cannot be changed and, thus, those whom He has chosen to be saved cannot ever do anything to lose that salvation. The root problem with this doctrine began with the erroneous interpretation of Scripture [sometimes purposefully so], and this led to its proponents then concluding that anyone who has faith cannot ever lose it and, thus, never be lost. The major problem with this declaration is that Scripture teaches us otherwise. In fact, the writer of the book of Hebrews spends a good deal of time reminding us about those old Israelites who quit believing, and then points to them as a warning to the Jewish Christians of the first century to not follow their example by having "an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God" (Heb. 3:12), and reminded them that the Israelites "were unable to enter because of unbelief" (v. 19). With the Israelites as an example of unbelief among God's people, the writer would go on to warn the first century brethren that they should beware lest they "fall by the same sort of disobedience" (Heb. 4:11)! Now, we might look at those words and clearly see that God's people can quit believing in God, right? The text plainly says they did. But what did the writer mean when he said that they were guilty of "unbelief"? Did he mean they actually quit believing that God existed? [Not likely.] Did they quit believing in Jesus as the Christ? [Not possible.] It is important that we understand what is meant here so we will properly interpret the text but, more importantly, that we make sure we have the right kind of faith - the kind that is pleasing to God (cf. Heb. 11:6) and which will save us. What was missing in the Israelites who were guilty of "unbelief" was trust in God; they simply did not believe Him anymore. Let me explain by use of examples: The pattern of unbelief started early. When God had just demonstrated His supreme power of the 'gods' of Egypt and her ruler, the people were allowed to depart by decree of Pharaoh. But when they came to the edge of the Red Sea and looked back at Pharaoh and his approaching army, they "feared greatly" and said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?" (Exod. 14:10, 11). Just a few hours out, the people have already begun to lose trust in God, though they had just seen His mighty power demonstrated over and over, to the point the land of Egypt was decimated. Yet they disbelieved. We might remember that God delivered them from Pharaoh mightily, but just three days into their freedom, they got to a point where their faith failed again and they complained to Moses about a lack of drinkable water (Exod. 15:22-24). Less than a month later, when they came to the wilderness of Sin, they complained again - this time for a lack of food (Exod. 16:1-3). When they came to Rephidim, they complained again for a lack of water (Exod. 17:1-3). Each time, God abundantly provided for their needs, and yet they continued in their disbelief. And we might also remember that when they came to the edge of what we know as the Promised Land - a land, God said, was theirs for the taking, they once again lost faith in God and 10 of the 12 spies came back with a bad report, telling the people, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are" (Num. 13:31). Despite the pleas of Joshua and Caleb [who still had faith in God], the people were ready to appoint new leaders and return to Egypt, and it was all because they no longer trusted God [if they ever did]. For this, God decreed that those 20 years old and above would die in the wilderness and only the younger ones would see the land of promise. Late in the history of the nation of Israel, we still see glimpses of their unbelief. After years of provoking God by their idolatry [demonstrating unbelief in God as the One, true and living God], God allowed them to be punished by surrounding nations, but He was also always willing to relent should they repent. But, because of their persistent unfaithfulness (cf. Ezek. 14:13), God determined that they would go into captivity. Instead of seeking God once again, they further demonstrated their unbelief by seeking help from surrounding nations instead of God - including, incredibly, Egypt (cf. Isa. 30:1, 2; 31:1)! But let us not think that just because we are under Christ and not the Old Law, that we are exempt from the possibility of losing faith in God. It is not a matter of ceasing to believe in God's existence, that Jesus is the Christ, or even that the Bible is God's word; what we speak of here is the lack of trust in God, in Christ, and in His words. That, friends and brethren, is a lack of faith, and one who is a child of God can be guilty! If it was not possible, then why did the writer of Hebrews warn the brethren about the possibility? And if it didn't matter, why bother? But, you see, it did matter - and still does. Though these passages are familiar to many of us, I am afraid more and more disciples today do not really grasp that they are on the cusp of unbelief themselves. When we turn away from the ways Christ established for the church to work and worship and start talking about how the Bible is not relevant today or should be interpreted in the context of modern society, we have begun to lose trust in God and, thus, are guilty of unbelief. When we argue for alternate ways of worshipping and serving God [i.e., ways not expressly approved by the text of God's word], then we have become as the Israelites of old and we, too, lack faith in God. When we start adding human institutions to do the work God gave exclusively to the local church and/or to the individual Christian, we have demonstrated our lack of trust in the ways and, yes, the authority, of Christ and we are guilty of unbelief. That's right: unbelief. It is irrelevant to start arguing about whether those human institutions are supported from the treasury or not; they are unauthorized. If we persist in pursuing alternate means of accomplishing the work given to us to be done in the way Christ said it is to be done, then what else is it except a lack of trust in His ways that would explain it? Friends and brethren, it pains me to point out that many brethren today are guilty of unbelief, but the fact remains. When will we awake to the perilous position wherein we stand, and return to faithfulness by once again trusting in God's ways? Now? Next week, we will consider another synonym for faith to help us better understand God's word. Until then, keep studying God's word. -- Steven Harper -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090307/408d07b9/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sun Mar 8 05:11:45 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 06:11:45 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Sunday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. I don't usually post anything on Sunday, but I had to be away from my computer Satur- day and therefore missed out on posting then. So, I will use this time to catch up as it were. Here is an article from my files: GOD HAS SPOKEN Miracles were done by Jesus Christ to show His approval from God (Acts 2:22) and to prove His claims to Deity (Jno. 14: 11). They were recorded in the Gospel so that those who read may believe that Jesus is the Christ (Jno. 20:30,31). The miracle of Christ's resurrection is the crowning proof of those claims (Acts 17:30,31). The Apostles were given miraculous power for inspired revel- ation of truth (Jno. 14:26; 15:26;16:13), and for confirmation that their message came from God (Mk. 16:14-20; Heb. 2:1-4). They were empowered by Christ to impart miraculous gifts to Christians for confirmation and revelation of truth (Acts 8:14-18; 1 Cor. 12:1-11), for edification of the church (1 Cor. 14:12-40). When the revelation of the Gospel was completed and the acco- mpanying confirmation was done, the purpose of the miracles was accomplished, and they ceased. Paul explained this in (1 Cor. 13:8-13). Miraculous knowledge was "in part." But when the perfect (complete) had come, "that which is in part " was done away. Tongues miraculously known ceased along with prophecy by the Holy Spirit. No one today is miraculously em- powered to speak Russian, Chinese, Hebrew, or Urdu. No one today is receiving miraculous revelations from God which would require Divine confirmation. The Gospel is not growing larger in volume from generation to generation. It remains "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3), for which followers of God are urged to contend earnestly. Our lot is to read, to study, to believe and obey that Word spoken by the Lord and confirmed to us by those who heard Him (1 Tim. 4:13- 16; Eph. 3:3,4; Rom. 10:17; Heb. 2:3,4). We must be led by that which is written. ------------- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090308/a50f8c60/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sun Mar 8 05:12:11 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 06:12:11 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) "I WILL BRING YOU OUT..." Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. "I WILL BRING YOU OUT..." When God calls us to serve Him, it is often a frightening pros- pect. We may think we are unable to do what He wants us to do. So, some of us avoid evangelism, or sharing good news, we don't think we can. Others won't attend many or most of the wor- ship assemblies they could. All because we feel we are not able to accomplish the mission that God gives us. This is not unusual. Most of the great servants of God had their doubts as well. Moses seems like the great lawgiver, but he began his mission for God with nothing but doubt (Exo. chs. 3,4). So, when God sends Moses off to lead Israel out of Egypt- ian bondage, He reminds His servant of several important things. Take time to read: (Exo. 6:2-8). God Reminds Us Who He Is: -- God begins with a description of Himself. "I am the Lord" is His declaration. Moses was familiar with the story of creation. He knew Who God was. But the Lord wants to remind his servant that He is not some ordinary being, He is the Lord God. That would put several things in Moses' mind. First, the Creator of all things was with him. Second, the God who orches- trated Joseph's arrival in Egypt and his rise to influence was on his side. Third, the God who had protected him and called him on Mount Sinai was still there, still with him. Moses was looking at his own ability, his age, his status, and all those things broug- ht doubts. So, God forces him to look at the Lord and remember "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?" (Gen. 18:14). We, too, need to be reminded that nothing is too hard, too big, too difficult for the Lord to handle. I know when we look at our abilities, our weaknesses and failings, we think we can't do much for the Lord. When we are feeling that way, we must be reminded. Who God really is. God Reminds Us What He Has Done: -- The Lord then tells about His work with Moses' forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jac- ob. He reminds Moses of the covenant He had made with those men, and that He would keep His promises to them. In this, God is reminding Moses that he is not on his own. He is part of a great, historical process that God is developing to fulfill all His promises. That is, Moses may feel overwhelmed by the mission God has given him, but in fact, it is only one small part of a much greater plan. If his forefathers could do it, so could Moses. We need to learn this lesson today. The God who sent Jesus, who defeated sin and death is the God who calls us into His service. We can accomplish all that God commands of us if we will only remember what He has done in the past. And, we need to recall that we are not aimless creatures barely getting by. We are the heirs of all of God's promises, including Jesus the Christ. We can do what God wants if we remind ourselves of what He has already done. God Reminds Us He Cares: -- Next, God tells Moses that He is aware of the groaning, the struggle and burden His people are experiencing in Egypt. While the Israelites may have felt aband- oned by God, the Lord is completely aware of their situation. The message is simple, God cares too much to leave them in their misery. This should be good news for us today as well. It may seem that God is distant, but He is not. It may seem that He doesn't care about your problems, but He does. And, He proved that by sending Jesus to die for you. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (Jno. 3:16). And in Christ He has provided all that we need. "Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godlin- ess, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Pet. 1:3). God knows your situat- ion and has acted and will act to help you, just as He did the Isra- elites. God Reminds Us Of His Promises: -- Twice God mentions His covenant. First, when He made it with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. Second, when He speaks of rescuing His people. God wants us to know that He keeps His promises. This is what makes His covenants so special. Even while we fail in our part, He keeps His promises. The Israelites God is going to save out of Egypt are not perfect or even close to perfect. But, God keeps His promises. This is wonderful news for those of us who are Christians. Every promise God has made He will keep. So, His promise to cleanse us of our sin is sure. His promise to give us a home with Him is going to come true. His assurance that death is not the end is a promise we can rely on. God always keeps His pro- mises. If we can remind ourselves of this great principle, we can serve God fearlessly. God will not let our efforts go unnoticed nor will He allow our service to come up empty. God notices and blesses us when we rely on His promises. So, the next time you are unsure you can do what God is asking of you, recall His promises and know He keeps them. God Reminds Us Who Saves Whom: -- Finally, God tells Moses that He will redeem His people using mighty power and amazing events. He is not just going to get them out of slavery, He is going to do it in a big way. The events of the Exodus are going to leave a lasting impression on the people of God and on those who witness those events as unbelievers. When the dust settles, everyone will know Who saved whom. What is it about us, as people, that we think we can save our- selves? We somehow think that it is our genius, or our good- ness, or our abilities that make us right with God. None of that is true. The fact is, we need to be reminded Who saves Whom. All of us were sinners (Rom. 3:23). All of us are unworthy, even if we have doene all we were supposed to do (Lk. 17:10). If any of us stand before God as righteous, it will only be becau-se of His love and mercy. And, as with Moses, God used a migh- ty and amazing thing to save us. He allowed His Son to die in our place. When you experience the salvation God offers, you will know it was all because fo God's love and mercy, not your abilities. So: They Won't Listen: -- Moses goes to the children of Israel and a startling thing happens: "So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did nto listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage" (Exo. 6:9). These people were so despondent over their hardships they would not listen to any good news. Moses tells them what the Lord had said, and they will not listen. How like us they were. We, too, allow our mistakes to get in the way of believing. We see how messed up our lives are and we feel that not even God can fix it. So, people hear the good news that God is near, that Jesus will forgive them, and they just won't listen. Their lives are too hard for them to accept what God has already done for them. So: Listen To The Lord: -- This is the bottom line. God keeps His promises, but if you don't receive them they will do you no good. For the Israelites, they need the hope that would come with redemption. They needed to know God was real and was moving in their behalf. You need to know that as well. So, like them, you need to listen, no matter how bad your life may be. And God's message to you is easy: "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). You must trust God to do all that He promised through Jesus. "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:5). Jesus says it plainly, you must repent. You cannot go on living for yourself. God stands ready to help you if only you will turn around and turn toward Him in repentance. "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who had disbelieved shall be condemned" (Mk. 16:15,16). These too are the words of Jesus. The Israelites refused to listen. Will you? God stands ready to act in a mighty way in your life. He will remove your sins and will walk with you through life. He will do all He promised, if you will listen and res- pond to the mercy He offers. (Yes, God has promised salvation to all of those who will accept His Word given through His grace, and obey His Will as given in the New Testament, JWS) ---------- David Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 4, Jan. 23, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090308/b1e936c7/attachment.html From bgreen at tycom.net Sun Mar 8 12:33:53 2009 From: bgreen at tycom.net (Bill Green) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 12:33:53 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Looking for Cecil B. Douthitt workbook Message-ID: <3D9DB79991AD49B2994BE7772F7A1086@your4105e587b6> I am looking for "Church Studies" by Cecil B. Douthitt to use in a Tuesday night bible class. Does anyone know where I can find any copies? Is it still in print? If its not still in print does anyone have copies they are willing to sell? Anyone know if it can be reprinted? Thanks so much for your time and help. Brotherly, Bill Green -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090308/9476d947/attachment.html From ZekeFlores1 at cs.com Sun Mar 8 16:35:24 2009 From: ZekeFlores1 at cs.com (ZekeFlores1 at cs.com) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 17:35:24 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A> Faithful Wounds; S> Fruits of Calvinism Message-ID: Brethren, following is an article that appeared in our bulletin today. Hope you can use it. Also, please visit our website (angletonchristians.com) for the final lesson in a series on Calvinism titled "The Fruits of Calvinism" Once you're at our homepage, just click on "Sermons" and look for the Calvinism series. Zeke Flores Kiber Street church of Christ Angleton, TX www.angletonchristians.com ********************************************************************* Faithful Wounds "Faithful are the wounds of a friend..." Prov 27:6 I enjoy being in the company of insightful people with a lighthearted sense of humor. Who doesn't like a jovial conversation just for the sake of having a few laughs? I also like serious discussions about current events, politics, moral issues, and spiritual things even when those with a different viewpoint express their opinions with intensity and passion. But, usually I don't like conversations where I am being rebuked, scolded, or otherwise called to the carpet for my attitude or actions. Most people are like that: It's just hard to face shortcomings, failings, and sins. But, when I look back on my life, some of my most significant, life changing moments were when I was being admonished by someone who genuinely wanted me to be a better person. Certainly, some of those reprimands were of high spiritual and moral benefit. There was the time my 6th grade English teacher let me know how much I'd let her down for things I said in class. It was then I really understood the impact of the poster that adorned the wall of our classroom which announced, "I am master of my unspoken word, yet slave to those which should have remained unspoken." Thirty-four years later, I still recall the words on that poster. Then there was the time when I was 16 and one of my cousins expressed his disappointment in me for some bad decisions I'd made that could carry long-term consequences. I don't see him very often, but whenever I do, I always think of that chat we had on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. Another time, as a relatively new Christian in my 30's, I was scolded by a brother in Christ for some of the outfits I allowed my daughters to wear. I realized that these people cared enough about me to point out things that others wouldn't. These conversations were anything but lighthearted, yet the lessons learned have stayed with me even to this day. The book of Ecclesiastes reminds that "there is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven..." (Ecc 3:1) There is a time when "it is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than for one to listen to the song of fools." (Ecc 7:5) When the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian churches, he scolded them severely in very strong language for a number of faults they had, yet he asked, "Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Gal 4:16) The evident answer was that no, he was not an enemy but a dear friend for pointing out things that would have the greater benefit and longer lasting advantage to them. He expected that when they heard the truth, they would be eager to change, knowing that their souls were at stake. Rebuke hurts, but it's helpful when we must correct a course of action or else face undesirable consequences. Preachers and faithful Christians understand this and they attend to the need, sometimes with a toe-stepping sermon or a well-meaning phone call. Unfortunately, too often, loving reproaches are met with "It's none of your business!" or "Why doesn't the preacher ever preach on anything uplifting?" Surely, the old adage is true: The kicked dog howls the loudest! One poet wrote: When others give us compliments, They are so easy to believe; But it is hard to take rebukes, Though they are helpful to receive. Remember that when you're being scolded, either by the preacher in a sermon, or by a concerned Christian, the aim is not to embarrass or harass you, but to help you see your error and change before you lose your soul. Truly, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." (Prov 27:6) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090308/7b17dffc/attachment.html From richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com Sun Mar 8 19:42:48 2009 From: richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 18:42:48 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (3/8/09) Message-ID: <20090309004554.5675723005E@dumbledore.whizardries.com> Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) March 8, 2009 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "Our Personal Responsibility" (Richard Thetford) "How Can I Deal With Worry, Anxiety?" (Hoyt H. Houchen) "Authority" (William Oncken Jr.) "SENTENCE SERMONS --- 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" (Romans 14:12). Knowing that we will stand before God in judgment then 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" (Joshua 24:15). When we first decide to do the Lord's will (Matthew 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 for gaining faith and the only way to do that is by "hearing" the word of God (Romans 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 (Matthew 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 (Hebrews 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 (Romans 14:12-13). May we all strive to learn individual responsibility so we can be pleasing to God in all aspects of life. --- HOW CAN I DEAL WITH WORRY, ANXIETY? Hoyt H. Houchen Worry is a common problem and no doubt a reason that the Scriptures say so much about it. For example, Jesus taught in Matthew 6:31, "Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." This is the conclusion of what Jesus had said in the previous verses about worry, or anxiety. He had shown his disciples that they should trust in God and not uncertainty. The principle is that God will provide the necessities of life if we will place confidence in him. The problem with most of us is that we given more attention to the everyday physical necessities such as food, clothing and shelter than to spiritual matters. Our Lord climaxed his teaching on worry, or anxiety, when he said: "But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (v. 33). Paul admonished his brethren at Philippi: "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7,8). How do we cope with worry? How do we overcome it? Both in the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6 and that of Paul in Philippians 4:6,7 is the solution to worry. It is trust God. Most of us make God powerless by supposing that he is not capable of ruling his universe. We take life's situations into our own hands and forget that God has promised to supply our needs. The basic cause of worry is a lack of faith in the promises of God -- a failure to trust God. Our lack of faith results from not studying the word of God which supplies faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). When we trust God we will take our burdens to him in prayer. Hear Paul again: "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6). The idea is to let the things we seek be made known to God. Thanksgiving should accompany our requests -- not only for the many blessings which our Heavenly Father has already bestowed upon us, but for the very privilege of being able to make our requests known. He is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). We all need to stop this foolishness of worrying ourselves into nervous wrecks and remember that God is on his throne; he is capable of running his affairs; he is always accessible and he never becomes weary from our requests. When we trust in God and believe his precious promises, we will go to him in prayer. This relieves us of worry, thus giving us "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). In place of being ruled by fear, worry and anxiety, our hearts and our thoughts will be guarded by "the peace of God." This peace is another of the great promises which God will keep, if we will but trust him. Jesus told his apostles: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful" (John 14:27). Let us trust God, go to him in prayer and believe that his promises are true. It is only when we do these things that we can deal with worry, anxiety. --- AUTHORITY William Oncken Jr. The concept of authority as something that causes another person to "do what you want him to do" is reflected in most definitions. For instance, the Random House Dictionary of the English Language speaks of authority as "a power or right to direct the actions or thoughts of others. Authority is a power or right, usually because of rank or office, to issue commands and to punish for violations." Again the root idea seems to be control or direction of the actions of others. We see this same idea even in sophisticated examinations of authority. For instance, William Oncken, Jr., in a 1970 Colorado Institute of Technology Journal, gives an analysis of authority that suggests it is comprised of four elements: The Authority of Competence: the more competent the other fellow knows you are, the more confident he will be that you know what you are talking about and the more likely he will be to follow your orders, requests, or suggestions. He will think of you as an authority in the matter under consideration and will feel it risky to ignore your wishes. The Authority of Position: This component gives you the right to tell someone, "Do it or else." It has teeth. "The boss wants it"" is a bugle call that can snap many an office or shop into action. The Authority of Personality: The easier it is for the other fellow to talk to you, to listen to you, or to work with you, the easier he will find it to respond to your wishes. The Authority of Character: This component is your "credit rating" with other people as to your integrity, reliability, honesty, loyalty, sincerity, personal morals, and ethics. Obviously you will get more and better from a man who has respect for your character than from one who hasn't. William Oncken, Jr., Colorado Institute of Technology Journal 22 (July 1970): 273. --- SENTENCE SERMONS Life doesn't come with an instruction book - that's why God gave us the Bible. There is never a wrong time to do the right thing. There is no future in any job. The future lies in the man who holds the job. To have true friends, be a true friend. The man who has nothing but money is poor indeed. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Let your policy be honesty, humility, fairness and love. Don't make the mistake of believing that you work for someone else. --- SERMON TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ACTIONS (with PowerPoint charts AND Audio) www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org MEETING TIMES Sunday Bible Study..........10:00 A.M. Worship........11:00 A.M. Wednesday Bible Study........6:30 P.M. Evangelist/Editor Richard Thetford Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090308/bf4e6389/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 14927 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090308/bf4e6389/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 177 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090308/bf4e6389/attachment-0004.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 9862 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090308/bf4e6389/attachment-0005.gif From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Sun Mar 8 23:31:59 2009 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 00:31:59 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] Good News for Norwalk: Volume IV, Number 10: March 08, 2009 Message-ID: Good News for Norwalk For I am not ashamed of the good news, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16) A publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio Volume IV, Number 10: March 08, 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------- Results of Our Judgment "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, 'Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye;' and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matthew 7:1-5). Much ink has been spilled over the past two millennia over what Jesus means when He speaks of "judging" here in Matthew 7:1-5. Many take what Jesus says to one extreme and believe that He condemns any kind of judgment for any reason. This is especially true if someone tells them something they do not want to hear: any type of rebuke for inappropriate behavior or criticism in life is seen as "judging," and that is automatically understood as being "wrong." On the other side of the spectrum, many seek to rob Jesus' words of any power, and strive to interpret the idea of not judging so narrowly as to make the command almost irrelevant in life. The idea of the same standard of judgment is emphasized-- if you are going to judge, recognize that you will be judged by the same standard, and if you are living according to that standard, well and good. Is this dispute really what Jesus had in mind when He spoke these words before the disciples and Jews so many years ago? Is it a matter of not making any form of judgment? Is it a matter of just being consistent in judgment? Or does Jesus have something entirely different in mind? The idea that Jesus condemns every form of judgment is not consistent with what is revealed in the Scriptures. Ten verses later Jesus establishes that false teachers will be known by their fruits-- to recognize such requires discernment, which is a form of judgment (cf. Matthew 7:15-20). John tells the brethren to "test the spirits" (1 John 4:1). Jesus commends the Ephesians for putting false apostles to the test and recognizing that they are false (Revelation 2:2). Paul is quite explicit about the need to "judge" those who are inside (1 Corinthians 5). Yet the Scriptures also reveal that salvation or condemnation is not in our hands-- it is in God's (James 4:11-12). We do not have the right to pass judgment on anyone's eternal condition for good or evil, since each of us will have to stand individually before the judgment seat of God (Romans 14:10-12). Perhaps Jesus' great concern does not involve the nature of judgment, but instead the results of judgment-- how do we compose ourselves among others based upon what we discern? Do we discern the nature of people in order to condemn them or in order to show them the love of Christ? Shall we think that Jesus engaged in no judgment whatsoever? Was He unaware of Zacchaeus and his sinful ways (Luke 19:1-10)? Did He not know that those who ate with Him were prostitutes and sinners (Matthew 9:10-13)? Did He not tell the woman caught in adultery to go and sin no more (cf. John 8:1-11)? All of these circumstances required discernment and thus judgment. Yet Jesus did not judge them in order to condemn them, even though He would have been in the right to do so. Instead, He discerned the way they were so that He could show them the way of God. He came to seek and save the lost, not to condemn them (Luke 19:10). And yet look at what Jesus says about the Pharisees. The praying Pharisee was certainly judging everyone around him (Luke 18:10-14). They also knew that those with whom Jesus ate were sinners (Matthew 9:10-14). They knew the Scriptures, they knew what was right and wrong, and they were more than willing to point out the sins of others. Yet Jesus condemns them. Why? Because they judged? No, not because they discerned the nature of people, but because they despised others and exalted themselves (cf. Matthew 23, Luke 18:10-14)! As human beings, we must discern the ways of others. We cannot understand anyone without making some decisions about whom they are and what they are doing and how that relates to us and to what God has revealed in the Scriptures. But we are also to be humble servants of God, recognizing that we are no better than anyone else, but sinners who have obtained mercy (Titus 3:3-8). When we look at others in sin, we are not to judge them as deserving of hell-- we, after all, deserve the same fate! We must have mercy and compassion on them, recognizing that it is only by the grace of God that we are not in the same condition, and that same grace can free them also! We can always find ways to look down on others and to exalt ourselves based upon race, class, socioeconomic factors, quality of decision making, and so on and so forth, but in so doing we condemn ourselves-- we miss our own beam by focusing on the mote of others. There is nothing hard or fast that keeps us from being in the same condition as those whom we would despise for whatever reason. When we see a fellow human being-- a homosexual, a liberal, a Muslim, a conservative, a Baptist, a brother in Christ-- we must remember that we are not inherently better or worse than they. Jesus loves each and every one of us (John 3:16). Jesus would have each and every one of us learn of Him and be saved (John 20:31). Each and every one of us requires God's love, mercy, and kindness if we are to be saved-- and if we cannot show love, mercy, and kindness in return, are we really of God, or have we returned to the evil one? Let us discern the nature of others, being open to the possibility that we have erred in our judgments, and above all, to seek to show God's love, mercy, and compassion based upon our discernment! Ethan R. Longhenry evangelist at norwalkchurch.org -------------------------------------------------------------- The church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio Thank you for reading the electronic version of our bulletin, Good News for Norwalk. If you live in Norwalk or happen to be traveling in the Norwalk area, we would certainly love to have you visit one of our assemblies! Our location: 386 North Edgewood Drive (just off US 250 just north of Norwalk's city limits) Norwalk, Ohio 44857 Our assemblies: Sunday morning assembly: 10:30am Sunday evening assembly: 6:00pm Our Bible studies: Sunday morning Bible study: 9:30am Wednesday evening Bible study: 7:00pm -------------------------------------------------------------- For More Information If you have any questions or comments about anything you have read here, or desire more information, please contact our evangelist, Ethan Longhenry, at evangelist at norwalkchurch.org. Good News for Norwalk is a publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio, for the promotion of God's truth in our world. For more information about the church of Christ in Norwalk, please visit our website at norwalkchurch.org. Thank you for your interest, and have a nice day! Ethan R. Longhenry / disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus Spiritual Manna A biweekly devotional for your life. http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/manna From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Mar 9 03:39:32 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 04:39:32 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) WHAT I OWE MY CONGREGATION (1) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the first installment of this particular subject taken from my files. Use to the glory of God. WHAT I OWE MY CONGREGATION (1) I am certain that most Christians realize that service to God is a must. Jesus said in Matt. 16:24, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Lukes version of this says that it should be done daily, Lk. 9:23, JWS). Hopefully, every child of God will realize that he is under a solemn obligation of service to the absolute extent of his ability. Read the account of Jesus' conversation with Peter in Jno. 21:15-18. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and when Peter replied, "Yes," Jesus commanded Peter to serve Him: When tempted by the devil in Matt. 4:10, Jesus said to him, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt wors- hip the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." I am also certain that most Christians realize who they are members of the church. Acts 2:41,47 teaches us us that salvat- ion and membership in the Lord's church go hand in hand. The same action that saves us from sin also grants us membership in the Lord's body. This is not coincidental. We are people who have been saved by the blood of the Lamb (Isa. 1;18; Rev. 7:14) and we are a people that have been called to a body that God has planned since the beginning of the world (Eph. 1:3,4; 3:8-10). This "salvation" and "calling" uniquely prepares us for a work that God has in mind. Since most Christians know these facts, it seems to be almost irrelevant to study them again. How- ever, I sometimes wonder if we know how to merge these two realities; that is, do we know our specific duties to our congre- gation? If God meant for us to be members of a local body as is shown in the New Testament (Acts 9:32; 26:10; Rom. 1:7; 15:25,26; 1 Cor. 1:2; 14:33; 16:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2,4; Heb. 13:24), do we have any specific responsibilities to that particular body, congregation? I believe that the very use of the word "body" indicates that we ahve a disctinctive relationship and a distinctive duty to one another. Paul taught us in 1 Cor. 12:18-20,27 that we are "the body of Christ, and members in particular." He also taught that no one member is more important than another. We are all cruci- al to the work of a local body. No one person can accomplish the tasks that God has set forth, just like one member of my phy- sical body cannot perform all the tasks necessary to get me through a day. I cannot dial a telephone with my ear or wash my hair with my foot. Without different members in my body, I am useless. The same is true with the church, the congregation. With this in mind, let us investigate what we owe to the particular congregation of which we are members: My Good Example: -- A Christian should want his congregation to radiate a wholesome moral and spiritual influence in the com- munity. Therefore, I owe it the example of a good life. I am the light and the salt of the earth and if I lose that influence, I am worthless (Matt. 5:13-16). Peter wrote, "Having your conversat- ion honest among the Gentiles that, wherein they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Pet. 2:12). Paul told Titus to "live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (2:12). This means staying away from everything that is specifically mentioned as sinful (1 Cor. 6:9,10; Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Tim. 1:8; Rev. 21:8,etc.) and fleeing everything that is quest- ionable, (1 Thes. 5:22; 1 Tim. 6:11). My Greatest Concern: -- If you went to a congregation that broke into little huddles after services and only a couple of people spoke to you, would you go back? A Christian should want visi- tors who enter the door of the building to feel at home, to learn to love them, and to return to learn more of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are our guests. I must make them feel welcome! I owe it to them and to the congregation to show myself friendly. I cannot stand back and wait for other members to greet them. I must take the initiative (Gal. 6:10; Heb. 13:2). It does not take a Solomon to figure out the people will only go where they are wanted. Why do you scratch your head and wonder why people will not return to your congregation if no one has been friendly, if no one has shown any appreciation for them being there? (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090309/65925f1c/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Mar 9 03:39:19 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 04:39:19 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) TO THEE I GO Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Monday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an artic- le from my files: TO THEE I GO There have been times in my life when I have struggled per- sonally with prayer. But the truth is that given the nature of the world in which we live and the things that happen, there should be no more important daily part of our lives than prayer. We live in a world full of uncertainity and confusion. Today's friends may turn out to be tomorrow's enemies, and the stresses of today may ver well spill over into tomorrow and mar another day with which God has blessed us. What do we do? King David was on whohad the answer. David faced critics, plots against his life, intrigues, and personal attacks from enemies that at times seemed to be all around him. He faced each day, as we all do, with uncertainity -- in his case not know exactly who among his closest associates and friends he could ultimately and without question trust. However, David had a solution, and that solution was to pray to God. Psalm 5 seems to be a morning prayer of David's. It begins with, "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto Thee will I pray. My voice shalt thoug hear in the morning. O Lord; in the morning I will direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up" (vss. 1-3). Friends, David was facing enemies in many different forms. He faced those who lied to him and about him. He faced those within his own house who were arrogant, filled with ungodly ambition, and even bloodthirsty. What was David's first solution? Prayer. Prayer ought to be the first solution that comes to our minds when faced with problems. However, often our minds say differ- ently. We think we should do something, fix the problem oursel- ves, or take on our opponents and show them a thing or two. We want to be ready to fend off their attacks on our own and per- haps, with well-chosen arguments, defeat them. All of this is bas- ed upon our taking charge and fixing the problems by ourselves I have found myself believing that by sheer force of my will, I could fix problems or even prevent them from happening--but that is just not true. Let's learn from David. As he faced a day of worldly challen- ges, he knew that the best thing to do was to lay it all in God's hands. David was a good man, a man of wisdom and strength, and as king, a man of political and military might. Yet, he turned to the Lord first. This doesn't mean that he was ignoring his own responsibilities to work on his problems and to deal with his difficulties -- but it does show that David knew where real help come from. He concluded Psalm 5 with the words, "But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, becau- se Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joy- ful in Thee. For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt Thou compass him as with a shield" (vss. 11,12). ---- Greg Litmer in That Ye May Grow Thereby, pgs. 64,65. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090309/d028ca27/attachment-0001.html From chris.gautney at gmail.com Mon Mar 9 09:49:13 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 09:49:13 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Some Searching Questions / God's Word Message-ID: <9fd765230903090749m1afc27c0qc36a690a77178348@mail.gmail.com> Some Searching Questions What is my? 1. DUTY a. To Fear God ? Eccl. 12:13 b. To Keep Commandments ? Lk. 17:10 c. To Do Good ? Gal. 6:10 2. PURPOSE a. Keep Self Pure ? Dan. 1:8 b. Be Honest with God ? Mal. 3:8; Acts 5:1-11 c. Speak Right ? Psa. 17:3 3. DEBT a. Not to the Flesh ? Rom. 8:12 b. To the Lord ? Lk. 16:15 c. To All Men ? Rom. 1:14 4. DANGER a. Of Being Lost ? Matt. 16:26 b. Of Being Too Late ? Lk. 13:24-27 c. Of Getting Into Wrong Crowd ? 1 Cor. 15:33 5. GOD a. Belly ? Phil. 3:19 b. Money ? Col. 3:15 c. Creatures ? Rom. 1:25 6. FAITH a. Weak ? Rom. 14:1 b. Dead ? Jas. 2:26 c. Unfeigned ? 2 Tim. 1:5 d. Right ? 1 Cor. 2:5 7. TRUST a. In My Own Heart ? Prov. 28:26 b. In Man ? Jer. 17:5 c. In Riches ? Prov. 11:28; 1 Tim. 6:17 8. CONDUCT a. Shameful ? Eph. 5:12 b. Selfish ? Phil. 2:21 c. Careless ? Prov. 19:16 9. END a. Perdition ? Phil. 3:19 b. To be Burned ? Heb. 6:8 c. Death ? Rom. 6:21 ************************** GOD?S WORD 1. A FIRE ? consumes dross Jer. 20:9 2. A SWORD ? lay bare the heart Eph. 6:17; Heb 4:12 3. A HAMMER ? irresistible Jer. 23:29 4. A LIGHT ? show path of life Psa. 119:105 5. A MIRROR ? shows us ourselves Jas. 1:22-24 6. FOOD ? MILK, MEAT, WATER, BREAD ? nourishes the soul 1 Pet. 2:2; Jn. 4:?; Heb. 5:12 From chris.gautney at gmail.com Mon Mar 9 09:51:44 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 09:51:44 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The church of Christ / Weighed in the Balances Message-ID: <9fd765230903090751u4de26c03kd5cd519c104ac88b@mail.gmail.com> The Church of Christ 1. As a pearl, it is costly a. Matt. 13:46 2. As a house, it is orderly a. 1 Pet. 2:5 3. As a pillar, it supports a. 1 Tim. 3:5 4. As a flock, it depends a. 1 Pet. 5:2 5. As a family, it bears God?s image a. Eph. 3:15 6. As a body, it is one a. Eph. 1:23 7. As a candlestick, it shines and is exalted a. Rev. 1:12 8. As a bride, it is contrasted a. Rev. 19:7 ************************** Weighed in the Balances Your? 1. Words 2. Influence 3. Prayers 4. Offerings 5. Attendance at worship 6. Efforts at soul-saving 7. Bible study 8. Honesty 9. Purity of living 10. Forgiveness of others From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Mon Mar 9 09:53:06 2009 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 08:53:06 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] "Why Have Privately Supported Preaching Institutions?" Message-ID: <007c01c9a0c6$c227b240$6501a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> "Why Have Privately Supported Preaching Institutions?" By Don Martin The movement today of brethren organizing and forming privately supported institutions to collectively preach to the lost, edify the saved, and exercise benevolence for needy saints is very evident and well documented. In fact, we are now witnessing more such entities being formed. You will have noticed that the mentioned corporate work being performed by such institutions of preaching to the lost, edifying the saved, and benevolence for needy saints is precisely the work God has assigned to his local church (I Tim. 3: 15, Eph. 4: 16, I Cor. 16: 1, 2). The local church as set up by God provides spiritual leadership and oversight (Acts 14: 23), a treasury (cp. I Cor. 16: 1, 2), edification, and collective structure in which Christians are to work together to corporately effect the influence of the gospel. Regarding the local church, Paul succinctly wrote: "15: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (I Tim. 3). The descriptive expression, "...the pillar and ground of the truth" is never applied in scripture to any other entity. Also, we never read of Christians organizing (treasury, oversight, etc.) outside of the local church to form foundations, entities, and organizations through which to collectively do the work God has assigned to the local church. Based, therefore, on the silence of the scriptures in the circumstance of specific instruction, we must conclude that such entities, albeit privately supported, are unauthorized and constitute a form of institutionalism that many have not addressed or considered (cp. Heb. 7: 14). In view of all the division and stir such orders as the Guardian of Truth Foundation has generated (see addendum 1), why do these brethren insist on having them? "We view these entities as expedients, through which we may preach the gospel," I have been told. However, the essential definition of "expedient" involves the implementation and assistance of what is taught, in our scriptural application, and such as is advantageous. In the first place, where are Christians taught to form their own organization, treasury, leadership, etc. in which to corporately preach the gospel? Even if such humanly devised orders could be shown to expedite the work of preaching and not a violation or substitution of what is taught, in view of the resultant division, they would be excluded as expedients. Let it be understood that I cannot speak for all of the promoters and defenders of privately supported orders. However, I have been dealing with this movement since the seventies and I think I am qualified to make such observations, having personally talked and studied with many of the players of such entities. 1). I have learned that some have become a part of private institutions to preach the gospel due to the lack of "local demographic definition and hindrance," to use their words. "By being a part of such institutions, we have no primary local interest, but we can focus on general geographic interests and world-wide, if desired, application." I do not know that I fully understand such an answer, nonetheless, it is one that has been provided to me through the years. Some of the adherents of such practices have advocated the benefit of, "...coming together in designedly different geographic locations." Hence, some of these brethren have a "nebulous" and "fluid" concept of "coming together and working." They see this arrangement as not having the "shackles" belonging to the local church situation. We must keep in mind, though, the local church is God's idea and seen as a vital part of pristine, First Century Christianity (I Cor. 1: 2, Heb. 10: 25). 2). Loose and ill defined fellowship. From a biblical perspective, we understand that fellowship involves primarily two essential elements: Participation in spiritual matters and approval (cp. 2 John 9-11). This fellowship is contingent on such matters as doctrinal and moral purity and sameness (I John 1: 7ff.). "Don, I enjoy the fellowship provided in such institutions because it is relaxed and I can work with brethren that I could not work with in a local church." Through the years, I have heard such many times, but I continue to be unable to apply biblical truth and thus understand the concept. In these growing orders, you can find brethren of all sorts of serious doctrinal differences harmoniously working together. In reality, such fraternities pervert New Testament fellowship and help promote the unity in diversity mentality that is becoming so common today. 3). Another reason some have provided me for wanting to be a part of privately supported entities to preach the gospel is the freedom they enjoy. "Don, we experience a sence of freedom in our collective work arrangement outside of the confines of the local church." At various stages of the development of this movement, some have freely expressed to me the love they have for their orders, love that transcends their affinity for God's local church provision. "We can do more in our orders that can be done in local churches," I have been told. "In our circumstance, we do not feel that there are others watching us, governing us, and monitoring our every move," one promoter explained to me. 4). Regarding many with whom I have studied and debated the privately supported institutions to preach the gospel, I have encountered an express dislike and even antipathy for elderships. We have seen, notwithstanding, that God introduced the concept of certain men, meeting certain qualifications having the oversight in the local churches where they serve and superintend (I Pet. 5: 1-3). "We believe our arrangement of having a president, vice president, and treasury to fund our efforts works well for us," many have said to me. I realize that we have too many false elderships, however, abuse does not negate the right practice. I read nothing of a Board of Directors overseeing God's people as they come together to preach and edify one another. Such is a rejection of God's simple order. 5). Still another reason and rationale for such orders is, "These orders provide a degree of protection for those of us who preach, should we be fired by a local church, our fraternities will come to our aid." I do not deny this impetus for entity membership. However, how does such scripturally relate? I have personally known of adulterers and false teachers being given asylum by such entities and hooked up with another local church where they can go preach. Some orders possess a shocking influence and even "control" over various local churches. They thus form preacher cliques and political associations that go after all their "enemies" in their organized efforts to protect their members. As I close, allow me to repeat that I am not saying that every practitioner of these orders believe all the above mentioned. However, I know for a fact that a number have. The bottom line is that these orders are lacking scripture validation and are without biblical authority, notwithstanding the reasons for their existence and promotion (see addendum 2). Addendum 1: I mention the Guardian of Truth Foundation due to the influence and clarity of entity and purpose of this order. Addendum 2: In our objection to such privately funded orders that provide Christians the corporate means to collectively organize and preach the gospel, we are not alluding to the simple practice of two or more Christians forming a business for profit that sells books, even religious books. We also do not necessarily object to two or more Christians distributively working, "outside of the local church," directly viewed, in teaching others, such as appears to be the case with Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18: 24ff.). However, when Christians organize themselves in forming a Board of directors, President, treasury, mission statement, and even tax exempt status, such clearly constitutes the institutionalism to which we do object! From chris.gautney at gmail.com Mon Mar 9 09:55:21 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 09:55:21 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The NT Teaches / Reaction to the Preached Word Message-ID: <9fd765230903090755w5e2b318bw7adfbd93071f2ca1@mail.gmail.com> The New Testament Teaches... 1. There is only one way to heaven - Matt. 7:14 2. Christ built the church - Matt. 16:18 3. Christ is the Way - Jn. 14:6 4. It is his church - Matt. 16:18 5. The church is his body - Eph. 1:22-23 6. There is only one body - Eph. 4:4 7. The Lord adds the saved to the church - Acts 2:47 8. Salvation is in Christ - 2 Tim. 2:10 9. How to get into Christ - Gal. 3:27 ************************** Reaction to the Preached Word -- 1 Cor. 1:21-24; Mk. 16:15 1. BEREANS ? Acts 17:11-12 a. Eagerly investigated b. What Christ told the Jews - Jn. 5:39 2. STEVEN?S AUDIENCE ? Acts 7:51 a. Became angry and stoned him 3. PAUL?S SERMON ON MARS HILL a. Some mocked ? Acts 17:32 b. We will hear you again ? Acts 17:32 4. FELIX ? Acts 24:25 a. Feared and procrastinated 5. RICH YOUNG RULER ? Matt. 19:22 a. Went away sorrowful 6. JEWS ON PENTECOST ? Acts 2 a. Heard - Acts 2:37 b. Wanted to know what to do ? Acts 2:37 c. Gladly received his word ? Acts 2:41 d. Were Baptized ? Acts 2:41 7. ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH ? Acts 8:26-39 8. CORINTHIANS ? Acts 18:8 9. SOME MISREPRESENT PREACHER a. When he opposes their schemes ? Acts 16:16 From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Mar 10 09:02:32 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:02:32 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) WHAT I OWE MY CONGREGATION (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second and final installment of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. WHAT I OWE MY CONGREGATION (2) My Time, Energy And Talents: -- No congregation can make pro- gress without faithful and efficent leadership. To a certain extent, the members of a church make or break their elders. In order tomake my elders stronger and more efficient, I must give them my support. Many congregations of the Lord's people do not have qualified men to serve as elders, but they still have lead- ership. As long as elders remain true and faithful to the Word of God, I must not hinder and embarrass them in their work (Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim. 3:1; 5:17). I know there is a strong desire to say, "I could have done it better...", but how about trying, "May I make a suggestion?" Let us support those who are trying to guide the congregation, not criticize them. My Financial Assistance: -- A congregation has financial obligat- ions which must be taken care of at regular intervals. Whether i give or not, the obligations must be paid. If it is fait for my con- gregati0on to pay is obligations each week, it is fair for me to give each week. Remember, this is a commandment from God (1 Cor. 16:1,2). Though circumstances may force me to be ab- sent at times, my contribution still needs to be given to the treas- ury of the church. It is my duty of faithful stewardship to help fin- ancially with the work of our local congregation (1 Cor. 4:1,2; 1 Pet. 4:10). Giving is a very practical measurement of my spiritual priorities. I cannot be greedy and withhold the blessings that God Himself has given me and expect to please Him. My Faithful Attendance: -- I know that the very existence of any congregation depends upon the attendance of its members. In fact, attendance is the life of the church! For this reason, I must attend the services -- all the services I can. Psa. 122:1 says, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." How glad are you to come and worship with God's people? I could not live with myself if I knew that my congregat- ion died because I would not attend the services (Heb. 10:25). Many of us are content to be "Sunday morning" Christians. How can I possibly convince God that my relationship with Him is the most important one in my life if I will not even attend all the services (Acts 2:42)? How can I make God believe that I love HIm if I will not gather with His saints at every possible opportun- ity? My Zeal For Converting Souls: -- I want my congregation to grow and multiply in number. Therefore, I must set myself to the task of converting people to Christ. I can do this by teaching and preaching. I can do this by persistent effort! I can do this by bringing and inviting people to our services. Prov. 11:30 says, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." Jesus said in Matt. 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." Too many Christ- ians give up after one try or decide that they are "not any good with people." If there is one area where Christians have a terrib- le deficiency, it is in talking to people about the gospel. If I never express a desire for my neighbor to be saved, he will probably never obey the gospel. We must show people that we love them and want them to be saved (Rom. 10:1). In order to reverse the trend of non-growth in my congregation, I must be more diligent in spreading the gospel. My Undying Love: -- My congregation cannot thrive in a frigid atmosphere. I must not allow the church by my carelessness to become a place where hearts are chilled. I must make it a place where hearts are warmed. Therefore, I owe it my heart and the warmth of my love (Gal. 5:13). When Jesus was teaching about discipleship, He emphasized the need for love. He said in Jno. 15:12, "This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." My congregation will never flourish in an envir- onment fed by jealousy, gossip, and hate. It will only grow by love. Furthermore, I must also love the truth (Psa. 119:97). To help guide my congregation, I must make the truth the focus of my undying love. This means that I will correct error when I see it and I will encourage my brethren to "ask for the old paths...and walk therein" (Jer. 6:16). Wishing to be an honest man, I must meet my obligations to the best of my ability. I must, with the help that God gives, play my part in the incomplete work of buildign up the body of Christ which He purchased with His own blood (Eph. 4:12; Acts 20:28). If I am not willing to help my congregation become "fitly joined together" in love (Eph. 4:16), I am not worthy to wear the name "Christian." -------- Kyle Campbell in Truth Magazine, Vol. 52, No. 8, August 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090310/96ac9028/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Mar 10 09:02:20 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:02:20 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) THE DREAM OF NEHEMIAH Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: THE DREAM OF NEHEMIAH I like to pray with people who live their lives in such a way that one believes that God hears them. Peter said, "For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil" (1 Pet. 3:12). When you pray with a righteous man, not only do you believe that God hears him, but I can also learn a lot from him. Paul encouraged us to "observe those who walk accord- ing to the pattern" (Phil. 3:17). There are many examples of righteous men praying in the Bible. Nehemiah is one. About 445 B.C., in the twentieth year of the reign of King Artaxerxes I of Persia, Nehemiah was serving as cupbearer to the king. Word reached him from Jerusalem that the city was in dire straits. Though the temple had been re- built, the walls and gates of the city were still in shambles from the devastation wrought by king Nebuchadnezzar many years earlier. Nehemiah felt the stress of Jerusalem's condition and "sat down and wept and mourned for days" (Neh. 1:4). Then, he turned his attention to God and he prayed. Please take time to read Neh. 1:5-11. The following things were characteristic of his prayer: 1. His Prayer Was Fervent: -- (Neh. 1:4). It began only after days of weeping and mourning accompanied by fasting. Nehem- iah felt the burden of Jerusalem's walls, knew something need- ed to be done, and was volunteering to be God's man of the hour. Fervent prayer is felt prayer. It is prayer under deep con- viciton. O, how we need more fervency in our prayers today! Somehow I don't believe that you would have nodded off to sleep as you heard Nehemiah pray, do you? 2. His Prayer Was Reverent: -- (Neh. 1:5). Nehemiah never forgot that he was talking to God. He was addressing the Lord of heaven, "the great and awesome God", the Creator of the uni- verse. He neither took for granted his request nor the one of whom he was making the request. From a fear of God in his heart he acknowledged the holiness of God in his words. God is our Friend but He is not "our buddy, ole pal." We should sancti- fy Him as holy with the way we approach Him in prayer. 3. His Prayer Was Humble: -- (Neh. 1:6). Nehemiah possess- ed a servant's mentality. He understood that God was Lord Who alone possessed the right to rule. But he also approached God with a pliable spirit, willing to hear and be changed by the Lord's message. 4. His Prayer Was Continual: -- (Neh. 1:6). "I am praying be- fore You now, day and night..." Like the persistent widow of Lk. 18:3-5, demonstrated the depth fo his requests by making them continually before God. 5. His Prayer Was Knowledgeable: -- (Neh. 1:8). Nehemiah knew the Law of Moses. Further, he was well acquainted with the history of Israel, God's people. He knw well the warnings and blessings Moses had pronounced upon the nation just prior to his death. He knew they deserved to be ripped from the land; and he knew God's plan to restore a righteous remnant to pre- serve seed through which the Christ would come. 6. His Prayer Was Confident: -- (Neh. 1:11). You can see Neh- emiah' s confidence exuding from every word. He knew how to pray in faith (Jas. 1:5-8). 7. His Prayer Was Specific: -- (Neh. 1:11). Sometimes people pray in such general terms that they have no idea whether or not God ever answers their prayer. Not Nehemiah. Nehemiah pray- ed for success in being granted permission to go to Jerusalem. We need to take notes on Nehemiah's prayer. We need to see how acquainted he was with the labors of prayer and model our prayers after his. It might change our praying. It might change our lives. I suspect that it would. ----- Jim Deason via., The Jackson Drive Reporter, Mar. 8, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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FREE compliments of EBSCO Media. http://www.claudiamccue.com/ebsco.html CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. It may contain information which is covered by professional or other privilege. If you are neither the intended recipient of this email nor the person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use of it is strictly prohibited. Please notify the sender immediately by reply email and then delete it from your system. EBSCO accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person arising from the use of this email. Please consider the environment before printing this email. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090310/a8b5dfc0/attachment.html From chris.gautney at gmail.com Tue Mar 10 10:54:17 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:54:17 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Our Resurrected Bodies / Empty Benches Message-ID: <9fd765230903100854q6c9cc1cfk6e20e0955acb7d4@mail.gmail.com> Our Resurrected Bodies 1. Like Christ?s body of glory ? Acts 1:11; 1 Jn. 3:2; Phil. 3:21 2. In the image of Christ ? 1 Cor. 3:18; 15:49 3. Transformed body a. Not flesh and blood ? 1 Cor. 15:50 i. Not body it had been ? 1 Cor. 15:37 b. Spiritual - 1 Cor. 15:44 i. Not subject to desires ? Rev. 7:16; 21:4 ii. Not subject to passions ? Matt. 22:30 c. Incorruptible ? 1 Cor. 15:24 i. Not subject to decay ? Rev. 22:3 d. Immortal ? 1 Cor. 15:53 i. Not subject to death ? Rev. 21:4 e. Powerful ? 1 Cor. 15:43 i. Not subject to disease ? Rev. 21:4 f. Glorified -1 Cor. 15:53 i. Not subject to disgrace ? Rev. 21:27 ************************** Empty Benches Heb. 10:25 Good Points 1. Benches are here regardless of weather (snow, rain) or sickness. They are here every time the doors are opened. Heb. 10:25 ? Every assembly ?Closed on Sunday? , means every Sunday 2. No matter if no spoken to, misused, abused, they are still here 3. Don?t cause any disturbance. They don?t talk, chew gum, write in song books ? 1 Cor. 14:40 4. Same every time you see them 5. Are united and do not destroy one another Bad Points 1. Empty benches are always silent. Some afraid to sing, pray, take part. 2. They do not improve themselves, but deteriorate ? 1 Cor. 15:58. Back seats are whittled on but no front seats 3. They have no fear, feelings, or love, reverence, etc. Not mental feeling 4. Always stay the same and never improve ~ CSG From chris.gautney at gmail.com Tue Mar 10 10:56:58 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:56:58 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Who is a Wise Man? / A Swarm of "Be's" Message-ID: <9fd765230903100856g1506ebbr27a11dcb4f598b82@mail.gmail.com> Who is a Wise Man? James 3 1. He who shows by his life works in meekness of wisdom a. Jas. 3:13 2. He who fears the Lord a. Prov. 1:17 3. Solomon said. (Why) a. Eccl. 12:13 4. He who respects parents a. Prov. 13:1; Eph. 6:2-3 5. He who fears and keeps from evil a. Prov. 14:16; Matt. 10:28 6. He who listens to counsel a. Prov. 12:15; Acts 2:14 7. He who refrains his lips a. Prov. 10:19; 1 Pet. 3:10 8. He who wins souls a. Prov. 11:30 9. He who hears the word of the Lord and does it a. Matt. 7:24-27; Jas. 1:22; Rom. 2:13; Jas. 1:25; Matt. 7:21; Jn. 9:31 ************************** A Swarm of BE?S Heb. 8 1. Be peaceful ? Rom. 12:18 2. Be content ? 1 Tim. 6:8 3. Be steadfast ? 1 Cor. 15:58 4. Be faithful ? Rev. 2:10 5. Be strong ? Heb. 6:10 6. Be patient ? Jas. 5:7-8 7. Be jealous ? Rev. 3:19 8. Be doers ? Jas. 1:22 9. Be obedient ? Titus 3:1 10. Be watchful ? 1 Pet. 5:8 11. Be careful ? Phil. 4:6 12. Be sober ? 1 Thess. 5:6 -- ~ Chris From chris.gautney at gmail.com Tue Mar 10 10:58:47 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:58:47 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The Sect Everywhere Spoken Against / Better Conditions in the Gospel of Christ Message-ID: <9fd765230903100858j581eb2d0v544954bdb53a1cc6@mail.gmail.com> The Sect Everywhere Spoken Against Acts 28:16-31 1. AT PHILLIPI ? Charged with troubling the city by teaching customs not lawful for others to receive - Acts 16:16-24 2. AT THESSALONICA ? Accused of turning world upside down; disturbing of religious society; uprooting the faith of others ? Acts 17:1-19 3. AT ATHENS ? Setting for strange gods ? Acts 17:16;33 4. AT CORINTH ? Charged with pervading men to worship God contrary to the Law ? Acts 18:1-16 The Law Had Been Nailed to the Cross ? Col. 2:6-23; Heb 10 ************************** Better Conditions in the Gospel of Christ 1. Better Revelation ? Hen 1:1-4 2. Better Hope ? Heb. 7:19 3. Better Priesthood ? Heb. 7:20-28 4. Better Covenant ? Heb. 8:6 5. Better Promises ? Heb. 8:6 6. Better Sacrifices ? Heb. 9:22-23 7. Better Possessions ? Heb. 10:34 8. Better Country ? Heb. 11:6 9. Better Resurrection ? Heb. 11:35 -- ~ Chris From tthornhill06 at yahoo.com Wed Mar 11 02:16:25 2009 From: tthornhill06 at yahoo.com (Tom Thornhill) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:16:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Biblemat] Ser>The Positive Preaching Movement Message-ID: <351461.23495.qm@web50901.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Brethren, Greetings. Here is a lesson (actually it is taking me 3 services to preach) on the Positive Preaching Movement. Hope it is helpful. Feel free to comment if you wish. Tom Thornhill Jr. (note: this is a new email address with Biblematters as I had some issues with my old one). www.roseavenue.org Sunday, March 11, 2009 am THE POSITIVE PREACHING MOVEMENT Most of us are familiar with the phrase, ?The positive preaching movement?. From time to time you might hear preachers warn about it either from the pulpit or in conversations. But what is it really? Should we be preaching a positive gospel? And if so, why is the ?positive preaching movement? wrong? What are some of the problems with the positive preaching movement? What should true preaching consist of? Today, we want to answer some of these questions. I. What is the Positive Preaching Movement? a. It is NOT simply preaching sermons with a positive message. That is something that needs to be done. The overall theme of the gospel is one of hope and assurance. God IS a God of grace, love & mercy. He demonstrated that love by sending Jesus to die for our sins. We have a hope of heaven after this life. People need to be encouraged. We are to live joyful lives. That is the ultimate message of the Bible. b. It is a philosophythat says that we need to emphasize the positive aspects of the gospel by not directly condemning sin or being overly doctrinal. It encourages preaching generalizations and lessons which improve one?s self-character (usually through the philosophies of well known men). The belief is that by eliminating the negative and thinking positively, the positive encouragement will lead one to become more devoted to do what is right on his own. But more often than not, this does not happen. Its origins can be traced back to the philosophies of men. For example, Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the church of Christ Scientist taught that sickness was a result of improper thinking. Therefore, if you think positively, you can find healing. The business world adopted this philosophy nearly a century ago as well. Speakers like Dale Carnegie who wrote, ?How to win friends and influence people? (1936), presented a positive mental attitude which could lead to success. (NOTE: I do not deny the effectiveness of a positive attitude in such things. As a rule, we need a positive attitude ? which I believe the Bible teaches. But, that is not the point here.) In 1952, Norman Vincent Peale published the book, The Power of Positive Thinking in which he adopted positive business attitudes such as Carnegie?s, but he called the ?faith?. His was a challenge to change your circumstances by first thinking differently. His concept also involved eliminating negative thoughts which would lead to success. These matters were applied to material success as well. The ideas were adopted by many television evangelists (Oral Roberts, Robert Schuler, Jim & Tammy Bakker, etc) who in taught a ?health and wealth? gospel. The process has continued to develop. Now there is Joel Osteen (Your Best Life Now) & Max Lucado whose many books present mostly the positive elements of the gospel. But beyond these, it is a philosophy being adopted by many young preachers (and others not so young) even in the Lord?s church. (Some of these details thanks to a series of articles by Mike Willis in Truth Magazine, Vol. 31, April 1987). c. The movement is VERY successful, and with reason. In an article I read, by a denominational preacher, on this subject (he was against the idea of all positive preaching) it was noted that some influences that have led to positive preaching include 1) that it is the direction society is going in its education and practices, 2) ?the current climate in religious circles favors affirmative preaching. Courses in pastoral counseling point to the advantages of non-judgmental, positive communication.? 3)?The pastor?s own congregation often pushes him to preach affirmatively. These churches do not choose ministers to change them, but rather those who will confirm them in their current beliefs and practices.? As a result of these reasons, congregations where such is practiced are more inclusive and therefore appeals to a larger audience. These include many of the mega-churches and others that are growing by the 100s on a yearly basis. (NOTE: I am not saying that just because a church is growing it is preaching a positive gospel ? TT) It is also argued that because the preacher is less judgmental they are more like to open up to him privately. http://www.cbmw.org/Journal/Vol-5-No-2/The-Importance-of-Preaching-the-Negative-as-Well-as-the-Positive If churches are seeking numbers over truth, the positive preaching movement is the way to go. BUT, hopefully we already know the problem with all these reasons. Every one of these things is related to a single problem which we shall notice in just a few moments. d. It can be the elimination of all negative preaching. True ?positive preaching? avoids preaching about sin, controversial doctrines , and consequences. The true positive preacher won?t tell you that you need to repent. Instead, he will say, ?I?m OK, You?re OK just the way you are.? Furthermore, it e. It is the elimination of preaching on CERTAIN subjectswhich are negative. Among brethren, this is the bigger concern to me. Understand that the ?positive preaching movement? is NOT necessarily preaching false doctrine. One who is caught up in the positive preaching movement may not preach anything that is error. Every word he says may be the truth. He may even throw in the TRUE plan of salvation at the end of his lesson (though some have also eliminated the invitation as well), but when you look at his preaching overall, he LEAVES OUT portions of the word of God. There are churches that will not preach on certain subjects because they are divisive and upsetting to many within the congregation. They approach other subjects such as morality in general terms instead of specifics (i.e. they will preach the need to live a moral life, but they won?t mention dancing or social drinking directly, immodest clothing, etc). M-D-R is to be avoided at all costs. The reason - to preach on such might upset some of the membership. As a result, they hire preachers who hold to these philosophies. They choose preachers for Gospel Meetings that are popular and/or ?safe? when it comes to dealing with such issues. f. It is not something that happens over night. One thing to understand about churches that get caught up in this movement is that the change happens gradually. At first it is the just the avoidance of certain topics. But in time this leads to avoiding other topics. Before long, the congregation begins searching for someone whose preaching is influenced by the philosophies of men more than the Bible. They find someone who uses very little scripture in his preaching. But he is dynamic, entertaining and well informed about the latest trends in the religious world. The writings of men (such as those mentioned above) are often emphasized more than the Bible itself. As such attracts crowds and the church begins growing rapidly it becomes necessary to avoid even more topics that might drive away these new members. So the focus becomes EXCLUSIVELY about the benefits of Christianity. Sins of society and eternal punishment are to be avoided as topics at all cost. That is when you have a church carried away with the positive preaching movement. II. Problems with All Positive Preaching a. It is unscriptural? Why? Because we are to preach ALL of the word of God. Positive preaching by its nature eliminates much of what the Bible teaches. 1 Peter 4:11, when we speak it is to be ?as the oracles of God.? God spoke both positively and negatively. Frequently He condemned sinful conduct and attitudes. In the pages of His word we find STRONG warnings of wrath to those who do not obey Him ? Rom. 2:5-9, 2 Thess. 1:6-10. In Acts 20:27, as Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders he reminded them, ?For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.? Paul rebuked and became quite ?negative? at times. In fact, he wrote 2 Corinthians to defend he ?negative tone? in his first letter (and possibly others)> 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ? ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable to make the man of God complete. Man is NOT made complete unless he applies ALL that scripture has to say. b. It is more about pleasing men than pleasing God? Continually, scriptures warn against pleasing men in our teaching and preaching - Gal. 1:10, ?For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.? Matt. 5:11-12 in speaking of being persecuted, Jesus said, ?Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake?? c. It is often based on selfish motives? Related to pleasing men, true positive preaching is about you. It is about your wealth, & health. It is about hearing what YOU want to hear instead of what you NEED to hear. Often, positive preaching soothes materialistic and worldly attitudes because it ignores what is really needed. Sadly this is what far too many want when it comes to preaching. 2 Tim. 4:3-4, ?For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers?? Isaiah 30:9-10, ?This people is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord; Who say to the seers, ?Do not see?, and to the prophets, ?Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophecy deceits.? d. It can give a false sense of security? Positive preaching, because of what it leaves out can cause one to think he is saved when he is not. Consider the prophets in the days of Jeremiah ? Jeremiah condemned them because they listened to false prophets who said everything was fine. Jer. 6:13-14 says, ?Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ?Peace, Peace!? when there is no peace.? 2 Peter 2:18-19 speaks of the great swelling words of emptiness spoken by false teachers who allure those who have escaped from error, ?while they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption?? How can the homosexual know they are wrong unless it is pointed out to them? How can one living in an unscriptural marriage know such unless it is taught? Ezekiel the prophet was given a charge by God to be a watchman. His responsibility lay in warning the people, not the results. BUT, if he failed to warn them ? God would hold him accountable (Ezek. 3:17-21). There is a lesson for us a preachers in that! Paul gave Timothy that same charge, though not in the same words ? 2 Timothy 4:2, ?Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season.? e. It leads to ignorance- Ignorance is a great concern in spiritual matters. In fact, most of the time it is not good. You would not want an ignorant surgeon operating on you. You want him to be informed and you want to be informed. The same ought to apply to hearing the word of God. Hosea 4:6 noted, ?My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.? More than once Paul wrote because he did NOT want brethren to be ignorant (1 Cor. 12:1, 2 Cor. 1:8, 1 Thess. 4:13) Positive preaching by its very nature only tells us half of the story and it leaves out IMPORTANT parts! In fact it leaves out the part we need ? what we need to change about ourselves. There are certain subjects that by their very nature are negative, but necessary ? repentance, the reality of hell, Rom. 8:13, ?Put to death the deeds of the body?, condemning division and identifying false teaching and teachers, etc. When one only preaches a positive gospel he leaves these out. Failure to warn the ungodly leaves them in their sins and in a lost condition. And God will hold the teacher accountable as well (cf. James 3:1). In Ephesians 4:11-16 we find teachers and leaders were given to build up the body so that, ?we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of evil potting.? (14) f. It can lead to apostasy - Every church that ever left God did so by leaving the teachings of the Bible and following after the teachings of men. Over and over, false teachers are described as predators that take advantage of the ignorant ? Romans 16:18 speaks of those causing division being able to do so, ?by smooth speech and flattering words deceive the hearts of the simple.? 2 Peter 2:3 notes that ?by covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words?? IF the truth is NEVER taught on certain subjects (because they are controversial or negative) how will a congregation withstand the false teacher who comes in and wants to allow women in roles God has forbidden, instrumental music, changing the worship and work of the church, etc.? g. It weakens the purity of the church and its members. We NEED to hear lessons about morality and how to behave ourselves as Christians. We need to know what is acceptable and what is not. 1 Cor. 6:18-20 warns to keep ourselves pure from fornication. 1 Thess. 5:21-22 tells us to abstain from every form of evil. What is a ?form of evil?? We will not know unless we take the time to learn and unless it is preached about! There are reasons Christians should not drink, attend modern dances, wear immodest clothing or go to places where such is worn, etc. But those reasons will not be known if it is ignored in the pulpit. h. It leads to tolerance? tolerance of errors and those teaching errors. Sometimes in ignorance, but other times simply because of the desire to just get along with everyone ? which is a pivotal concept of positive preaching. The church at Thyatira was condemned because they allowed ?that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to?? sin (Rev. 2:20) The church at Pergamos was rebuked because they had in their midst those who taught the doctrine of Balaam and others (Rev. 2:14-16). When false teachers are NOT exposed such will have their way. Galatians 2:5 notes that Paul and those with him did not ?yield submission even for an hour that the truth of the gospel might continue?? when false teachers brought their doctrine with them. i. It leads to intolerance? of those who preach what they perceive to be negative. I am amazed at many of the liberal movements in our society today. The homosexual movement calls for tolerance of their lifestyle. The pro-abortion movement calls for tolerance of those who chose to abort their babies. What is remarkable is while they call for tolerance ? it applies to everyone EXCEPT those who disagree with them. The same is true of those who are call for ?positive preaching.? They don?t want to condemn sin, false doctrine and immorality. They call for those who differ with them to be tolerant, BUT they will not tolerate those who do condemn sin and immorality and false doctrine on a regular basis. And they are especially intolerant of those who would preach a sermon like this one!!! The account of Ahab and Micaiah also shows this - 1 Kings 22:8-13 which describes an occasion when Jehosephat, king of Judah visited with Ahab, they inquired about going to war. Multitudes of Ahab?s prophets said, ?Go, you will be successful.? But Jehosephat said, ?Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?? (vs. 7). Ahab?s response was, ?There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; BUT I HATE HIM, because he does not prophecy good concerning me, but evil.? (8) Later in that text the minions of Ahab plead with Micaiah to tell Ahab good things (13) rather than the truth. That is how many are today. j. It can lead to a lack of trust? if you think about, how can you truly trust someone who will not tell you what you need to hear? While positive preaching appeals to most at first, in time, when one needs real answers that are not sugar coated, they know they are not going to get them from their preacher. AND, on the other hand, when one NEEDS to hear something negative that they don?t want to hear ? the positive preacher is in a corner where he CANNOT tell them what they need because it is negative, and they just don?t want to hear that. k. It DAMNS souls to hell! This is the ultimate tragedy of this movement. The sad truth is that many who preach this positive only gospel don?t really believe in eternal condemnation in torments. The Bible teaches otherwise ? John 5:29, 2 Thess. 1:8, etc. III. True Gospel Preaching: a. Is from the word of God? NOT the philosophies of men (See above). 1 Cor. 2:1-5 ? Paul?s speech not with persuasive words ? he determined to only preach Christ and Him crucified. That your faith should not be in the wisdom of man. Romans 1:16-17 ? the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. 1 Thess. 2:13 ? it was welcomed as the word of God. Brethren, the Bible is not something that we play with. When we treat her with the reverence she deserves we will NOT add to her or take away from her. We will respect all of it. b. Is balanced? presenting both positive and negative topics. It is the WHOLE counsel of God. We have spent considerable time identifying the problems with All Positive Preaching, but let it be understood that All Negative Preaching is just as wrong. 2 Tim. 4:1-2 ? we reprove, rebuke and exhort 1 Tim. 3:16, 17 ? it is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. Col. 1:28, ?Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Titus 2:15, ?Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.? c. Is what is needed - As we have seen, all positive preaching, preaches what one WANTS, not what they need to hear. Paul told Timothy to preach the word in season and out of season ? 2 Tim. 4:1-2. Nathan told David, ?You are the man!? 2 Sam. 12:7. It is what was needed at the time. Jeremiah 6:16, ?Thus says the Lord: ?Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.? But they said, ?We will not walk in it.?? Jeremiah preached what they needed. Jeremiah 11:21 speaks of some who threatened Jeremiah to quit preaching to them. They said, ?Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, lest you die by our hand.? In my life of studies and preaching, in congregations where I have seen certain subjects avoided I have found that such is usually what is needed to be preached about the most! For example: A congregation that refuses to take a stand on M-D-R probably has some within its number who are in questionable marriages. A congregation that will not preach on modesty, dancing, social drinking, etc probably has teenagers who are popular at school who are involved in some or all of those activities. And the parents WILL take the side of their children over what the Bible has to say. So they avoid it. d. Is timely There are times when the negative needs to be emphasized and times when the positive needs to be emphasized. When needed it exposes sin and error. (BTW, when is that not needed?) AND there are times when people are hurting and need to be encouraged and built up. NOTE: Some subjects are always timely (unless they are overdone). We need constant reminders of how to live and how not to live. e. Is specific ? i. We need to do more than deal in generalities. At times we need to identify why a specific activity is wrong. We need to show in scripture ? not just by command, but also by example and inference (e.g. principles) what one should not be engaged in certain activities. WE also need to apply this in rebuke when we are not doing what we ought to do (cf. Jas. 4:17). ii. 1 Corinthians 14:8 we read, ?For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?? The point of the text is clarity in our worship. Paul is speaking of how we are to edify one another as we assemble to worship God. This would INCLUDE the preaching. Paul is noting that what is said needs to be understood. Far too many today, especially in the positive preaching movement, preach in generalities that skirt the main problem. iii. At times, we even need to name names! In Acts 2:22,23 ? ?YOU have taken by lawless hands and crucified?. Galatians 2:11-14Peter was rebuked by Paul in front of others for being a hypocrite. Timothy was told, ?Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all? 1 Tim. 5:20 1 Tim. 1:20, Paul warned Timothy by name about Hymenaeus and Alexander and their danger. Acts 7:51-53 - Steven was stoned to death for being specific and preaching TO his audience. Jesus, at times, got VERY specific in condemning the corrupt religious leaders of the Jews iv. Paul said, ?Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?? Gal. 4:16 f. Is preached with godly motives? It is imperative that any one who preaches the gospel or teaches others have a proper attitude. i. We need to teach and preach with love? that means that we care! 1 Cor. 13:4 describes our demeanor in love. 1 Timothy 1:5 says, ?Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.? 1 Timothy 4:12, Timothy was to be an example in love, etc. ii. We need to be sincere ? 1 Tim. 1:5 again speaks of the purpose being from a sincere faith? 2 Timothy 1:5 speaks of the genuine faith that Timothy had. iii. We need to humble? James 3:1, teachers will receive a stricter judgment; 1 Cor. 2:1-3 ? Paul did not come with excellence of speech 2 Timothy 2:25 ? the servant of the Lord must in humility correct those who are in error. iv. 1 Timothy 6:11notes a number of attitudes needed in preaching ,?But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.? v. I ask, Why do we think that only ?positive? preachers have a patent on such attitudes? The answer is they don?t! One thing a gospel preacher must never forget is that his motives are just as important as his message. When one realizes this, his presentation ?whether it be reproof, rebuke or exhortation will be tempered with humility, sincerity and love. g. Will offend some people. Let us never forget this fact! Not all are going to receive the truth. Even Jesus, with His miracles and purity was rejected by the majority. To many the truth WILL BE a stumbling block and to others it will be foolishness. (1 Cor. 1:23). That is just a fact. Jesus said, ?Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.? (Matt. 11:6) Matthew 15:12-14 the disciples of Jesus tell Him that the Pharisees were offended at His teachings. Jesus noted that such were not of the plant the Father had planted. 1 Peter 2:8 speaks of those who are disobedient. To them the teachings of Christ are ?a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.? h. Ultimately when one preaches all of the gospel it is positive. Let me explain. 2 Tim. 4:2 summarizes what I am talking about. We sometimes hear preaching is to be 2/3 negative and 1/3 positive (Reprove, rebuke and exhort). While there are 3 elements, the text is not exponential about how much of each is to be done. ALL need to be done as OFTEN as necessary. The point I see is that such is a process in dealing with sin. You identify the sin, tear it down and then replace it with what ought to be there. The ULTIMATE goal is to build up those in Christ. And if that happens, regardless of the amount of reproving and rebuking had to take place ? THE END RESULT IS POSITIVE. Why is sin exposed, doctrines and even people marked? Why are brethren to be rebuked when they are overtaken in sin or even when they just become indifferent? The MAIN reason is to build them up. But sometimes BEFORE you can build something up, you have to condemn and tear down what is there because it is bad. When a surgeon cuts you, he is hurting you. But why? He hurts you NOW so that in the long run you will be healed and your quality of life improved. It is the end result that prompts the hurt. Why do (SHOULD) parents punish their children? Because they hope they will learn from the punishment to do what is right. The Hebrew writer CLEARLY pointed this out ? Heb. 12:5-11. God chastens us, as a father chastens his children ? FOR THEIR GOOD! IF a Father beats his child just to do it ? that is abuse; If he beats (i.e. spanks) him as punishment to teach him to not do that again ? that is love and discipline. May we as preachers ALWAYS keep that in mind! This will regulate our attitude as we preach. And it will cause us at times to become very NEGATIVE in the eyes of the world. But the goal is to save a soul ? 1 Peter 1:9. Let it be understood that I am NOT opposed to uplifting messages. I believe they are needed and there are congregations where they are neglected (i.e. a steady diet of what is wrong without hope and specific answers to overcoming various errors). But the truth is, one cannot be saved by ignoring the very sins that are keeping him out of fellowship with God. We need the WHOLE truth! Paul told the Colossians, ?Beware, lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.? (Co. 2:8) I would love to see a day when we can preach a purely positive message. That would mean that the problem of sin has been totally addressed and overcome. It would mean that all brethren are totally united based on God?s word and are all living pure lives. It would mean that there are no more false religions in the world. It would also mean that all men have been converted to the gospel of Christ. BUT we know that in this life that is never going to happen. Satan is always going to be influencing the majority. We are always going to be struggling with temptations, sin and those hostile to the truth. Therefore, we must continue to expose error and warn of the dangers of immorality and ungodliness. We must preach the whole counsel of God?s word. The positive and the negative alike. God will accept nothing less. And neither should we! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090311/43cba4af/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Mar 11 04:57:09 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:57:09 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) THE TRUTH SOMETIMES HURTS Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Wednesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: THE TRUTH SOMETIMES HURTS How much do you appreciate the truth? The truth is easy to hear when it is flattering, encouraging and uplifting. However, the truth on sometimes hurt. Do you alway desire the truth from those around you, regardless of whether it is favorable or not? Do you always demand the truth from those who preach and teach th gospel of Chirst? (The Gospel is the Word of God, the Word of God is the truth, Jno. 17;17. The same book tells us that we are to know the Truth and the Truth will make us free, Jno. 8: 31,32. Sometimes, people trying to impress with the truthful- ness of what they are saying, will say "this is the gospel truth." This indicates that everyone is to accept the Gospel of Christ as the truth, JWS). The truth pleased the rich young ruler until Jesus told him the one thing he lacked (Mk. 10:17-22). Some would call such a declaration of truth unloving, but the Spirit called it love (note vs. 21). How do we feel when someone courageously and honestly points out our shortcomings (Prov. 27:6)? Most of the Jews who heard Peter on Pentecost appreciated the truth, though it indicted them. The chose repentance and baptism (Acts 2:36-40). Whereas, those Jews who heard Steph- en speak that same truth hated what was spoken. They responded by stoning Stephen to death (Acts 7:54-60). How do we respond to the truth? The Galatians loved the apostle Paul -- so much that at one point they were willing to pluck out their own eyes and give them to Paul. However, in the very next verse, Paul was compell- ed to ask if he had become their enemy because he told them the truth (Gal. 4:14-16). Do we despise those who tell us what we need to hear? A few reminders should help us to realize the value of truth. 1) Jesus is the truth (Jno. 14:6). 2) God's Word is truth (Jno. 17: 17). 3) Knowing and abiding in the truth can set us free (Jno. 8: 31,32). 4) Those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness will face the wrath of God (Rom. 1:18). 5) We must always speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). 6) We should always speak the truth with our neighbors (Eph. 4:25). 7) Love rejoices in truth (1 Cor. 13:6). Simply stated, unless we have a love of the truth, we will never appreciate the truths that hurt (2 Thes. 2:10-12). Unless we are willing to accept painful truths, we cannot know the sanctifying power of truth (Jno. 17:17). Unless we obey the truth, we will be condemned (Rom. 2:8). How much do you appreciate truth? The answer is painfully obvious when we are confronted with agonizing truths that re- quire change in our lives. Change hurts, but the truth saves. How will you respond the next time you are confronted with the truth? -------- Jonathan Perz via Gospel Power, Vol. 16, No. 5, Feb. 1, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090311/8c049e40/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Mar 11 04:57:24 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:57:24 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) FOUR SMALL WISE CREATURES (Prov. 30:24-28). Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. FOUR SMALL WISE CREATURES (Prov. 30:24-28). I am constantly amazed at the variety fo life on earth. Anima- ls, fish, birds, there are all kinds and varieties of each, and the variety speaks loudly of God's existence (Psa. 19:1). But of all the creatures God has created, there are four that seem particula- rly wise, even though they are small in size: the ant, the badger, the locust, and the spider. No, I haven't lost my senses, nor am I "stretching" for something to write about! I am simply reminded of the words of the Proverb writer who said in Prov. 30:24-28: "There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they pre- pare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces." The Ant (vs. 25): -- The Proverb writer begins by stating that ants are "not strong." In comparative terms this is true. After all, I can simply step on an ant and crush it! But in relative terms ants have amazing strength. Have you ever watched an ant carrying a morsel of food? They're tireless and strong. In fact, those who studyh ants tell us they can carry ten to fifty times their own weight! That would be like a 150 lb. man carrying an object of 1,500 to 7,500 pounds! But more important than their relative strength, ants are constantly making preparation for the future. It seems they never rest. They are in constant motion as they go about their work. In Prov. 6:6-8, the "sluggard" is warned to pattern himself after the ant: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; con- sider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." Ants are also armored. Scientists call the hard, outer shell of an ant "chitin." It protects them from a host- ile environment and contributes to their strength. Similarly, the Christian is to be armored. We also live in a hostile world. All around us are evil men who would undo our faith. But God, in His wisdom, has provided us with a unique and glorious armor: "...take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Eph. 6: 13). Like the ant, we must constantly prepare. We must tirelessly go about the work of the Lord. "I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work" (Jno. 9:4). The Badger (vs. 26): -- I'm not sure what animal the Proverb writ- er has in mind in this verse. The NASV translates the Hebrew word (shaphan) as badger, while the KJV translates it as "cony" (rabbit). The concordances and commentaries don't help much either! Young's Concordance translates the Hebrew "shaphan" as "a hare, hedgehog, or rabbit," while Matthew Henry calls them "Arabian mice"! Whatever they are, these animals make their houses in the rocks. They are small and weak, yet they have the wisdom to find security in the rocks. (I am reminded of being on top of Table Mountain in the Cape Town South Africa area, there I saw little furry animals that lived among the rocks on the top and sides of this particular flat looking mountain. They would scurry around and peek out of the crevices of the rocks that protected them from preditors, JWS). The spiritual comparison is compell- ing. Like the badger (or whatever) we can only find real security in the Rock of Ages! This message of security offorded by the Lord is found everywhere throughout Scripture: "The Lord is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my streng- th, in whom I will trust..." (Psa. 18:2). Note also Psa. 40:2; 61:2. Notice Paul's remarks concerning the wandering children of Israel: "...for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (1 Cor. 10:4). The believer would be wise to emulate the rock badger by finding solace and care in the Rock that is Christ! The Locust (vs. 27): -- A single locust is hardly noticeable. In fact, by itself, a locust is harmless and insignificant. But when locust travel together they get the world's attention! No one knows better the damage a swarm of locusts can cause than the Pharaoh who refused to let God's people go: "For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees... and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt" (Exo. 10:15). The lesson of the locust seems to be that God 1) never intended for us to work alone, and 2) we can accomplish much by working together. After the creation of Adam God knew it was "not good that man should be alone," (Gen. 2:18) so Eve was created to provide Adam with help and assistance. This same principle of "joint effort" is described again in Eccl. 4:9. The writer tells us that "two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor." In other words, there is strength in numbers. The modern world refers to this phenomenon as "synergy" which is best expressed in the following equation: 1+1+1 = 4. With synergy, the sum of the parts is greater than the individ- ual parts alone. The importance of working together, or emulat- ing the locust, is clearly seen in Christ's establishment of the church which is: "...fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Eph. 4:16). The lesson Christians everywhere can learn form the lowly locust is this: if we "pull together" then we can change the world! (If we pull together, it is much harder to pull us apart, JWS). The Spider (vs. 28): -- The final creature mentioned in the pass- age again poses a translation problem. What exactly is the writ- er discribing? The KJV renders the Hebrew word: "semamith" as "spider," while the NAS renders it "lizard." Other translators even attach the word "poisonous" to the creature being describ- ed. More puzzling, however, is the meaning. Unlike the earlier creatures mentioned, the analogy of the spider is not so clear. In his commentary of the passage, Matthew Henry says: "Spiders are very ingenious in weaving their webs with a fine- ness and exactness such as not art can pretend to come near. They spin a fine thread out of their own bowels, with a great art; and they are not only in poor men's cottages, but in kings' pala- ces." Perhaps, then, the Proverb writer would have us under- stand this: The beauty of the spider comes from within, and it shares this beauty whether in a poor or rich man's dwelling. If this is the meaning, then there are many wonderful biblical examples of men and women whose inner beauty brought hope to both the rich and poor of the world. Joseph spun a web of beauty and godliness whether in prison or elevated to power in Egypt (Gen. 39-41). Job spun a web of beauty? a web of service? when wealthy and when destitute. And let's not forget Paul. Whether preaching to the poorest of the masses or while imprisoned in the splendor or Caesar's palace, hsi inner spiritual beauty overflowed in his message of love for all who would serve God. It is in the Good News of Christ, springing from within the true believer that "the rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the Maker of them all" (Prov. 22:2). ---- Matt Hennecke, via Gospel Power, Vol. 16, No. 5, Feb. 1, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090311/c7eb2bb2/attachment-0001.html From wsasser at tds.net Wed Mar 11 16:40:25 2009 From: wsasser at tds.net (Whit Sasser) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:40:25 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] timeline? Message-ID: Hello Bible Matters list, Anyone got a timeline of the Life Of Christ you are willing to share? Send as a pdf attachment or direct me to a web page. Thanks. Whit Whit Sasser 3601 E. Newberry St. Appleton, WI 54915 920.733.5009 wsasser at tds.net www.appletonchurchofchrist.org Join my free e-list: "Exhortations & Stuff" -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090311/9b9b58b9/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Mar 12 04:46:49 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:46:49 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) "...SWIFT TRANSITION..." Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. "...SWIFT TRANSITION..." While walking on the treadmill we've come to watching old movies, some of which are our favorites (Columbo) from the early 90's. Surprisingly, one of the most revealing things about going back just fifteen years is the commercials, cars in particul- ar. What once were dazzingly hi-tech wonders are today contemptible rust buckets. How coud they ever have moved us to swing loans and make sacrifices just to have one of the ugly things in our driveways? And what a sad commentary on the power of slick marketing and the vanity of the human heart? What else have we been fooling ourselves about? An old episode of "Let's Make A Deal" (on GSN, form the 70's) told the same story. Appliances which we now gladly haul to the landfill were glamorized with glitz and glitter. We can see from our present place in time that the furniture which looked so stylish and appealing was actually cheap and gaudy. The contestants, all dressed up like crazy people, screamed and swooned over sheer junk. Within a ten mile radius of your location, how many houses could you find which are older than a hundred years? One hundred and fifty years? Today's mansions are tomorrow's eye sores, destined for the bulldozer or the practice fire. Or, how much would you give today for one of the old dino- saur computers, complete with Windows '95? The items which "lose their value" quickest and most dramatically are the electronic do-dads which currently are all the craze, many of which are so toxic that even the landfills won't want them. Fifteen years from now, all our "creature comforts" will be just more scrap iron and clutter. We may have moved up the scale to buy even nicer things, but in time it will still be just junk. The effect just a few short years has on our lives and our stuff is amazing. Hopefully, realization of this fact is what brings wisdom to the older ones ("wisdom does not always come with age"), whose bodies have lost the glory of youth, whose values have been tested with time, whose dreams have been sifted through the strainers of life, whose convictions have been test- ed against the truth. Time, by definition, involves transformation but we can envision and should long for a status of life and being, "a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:10). Jesus said to lay up our treasures in Heaven (Matt. 6:20), so doing it must be possible. Good news! We can have things and do things which transcend the temporal nature of this world! We can "take it with us when we go," but "it" won't include automobiles, houses, furniture, and gizmos, stuff that we even- tually grow to dislike even here. It will be those timeless things of life which the spiritual side of man appreciates. The grace of God brought to us by God and others will be- come a part of our psyches which will go with us to the judgme- nt (Lk. 16:22,23; 2 Cor. 1;12). Life and a place in God's creation alone should stamp on our minds a sense of eternal gratitude (Acts 14:17). There is a long list of acts of kindness from God and His people which we will never be able to repay. "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they whcih have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and pro- fitable unto men." (Titus 3:8). Through the years faithful Christians offer up countless pray- ers, whcih are described as "incense" arising to God. At their worship they sing spiritual songs and hymns, which are "the fruit of our lips," as if laid on the altar of worship (Eph. 5:19; Heb. 13:15). Every Sunday they observe the Lord's Supper, a memorial feast dedicated to Christ for the most gracious act in all history, that God would give His Son to atone for their sins (Lk. 22:19). Regular attendance at such a feast is surely of "lasting value," as opposed to watching the Porter Wagoner Show on Saturday night, which, by the way, fell in the ratings decades ago (Heb. 10:25). And, there is also the habit of reverently observing the preac- hing of God's eternal Word. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35 Teh Bible's eternal and unchanging nature enables those who comply with it to relate to the eternal God of heaven. The gospel is God's power unto salvation, and woe to the preacher or teach- er who alters it for whatever contemporary purpose (Rev. 22:18, 19). False doctrines come, and false doctrines go, but God's Word is here to stay. The story of redemption never grows old (Matt. 28:20). The commandments of Christ are for every gener- ation (2 Pet. 1:12-15; 3:2). The church of the New Testament will always be the pattern for spiritual worship and service here on earth (1 Tim. 3;15). There are those who try to make more of the things of this world than is there without god, the spiritual, and the Bible. They are like folks hanging on to relics as "collectors' items," like Columbo and his Peugot. Some things are more valuable than others, but when compared to the spiritual, well, there is no comparison of the worldly with the everlasting (2 Cor. 4:17,18). "For what is man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for hsi soul?" (Matt. 16:26). "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they tht have wives be as though they had none; And they tht weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away" (1 Cor. 7:29-31). ----- George Hutto in Tidings, Vol. 24, No. 3, March, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090312/6c504752/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Mar 12 04:46:38 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:46:38 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) TRAPPED, BUT NOT BOUND Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: TRAPPED, BUT NOT BOUND Several years ago I had the opportunity to go to a nursing home every Saturday morning with a group of Christians and sing, pray, and teach God's Word wth a number of the residents. One week we were studying Acts 16 and our particular focus was upon Paul and Silas being imprisoned in Philippi. I read vss. 22-25, "And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cst them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at mid- night Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." As we examined the passage and the situation in which Paul and Silas found themselves, I made the point that their actions served to illustrate that as children of God we can have joy no matter our circumstances. Looking at the crowd that had gathered to study with us, I noticed one older woman. She was bent over, obviously unable to straighten her body. She could barely lift her head. Yet when I mentioned that circumstances do not control true joy of a Christian, she smiled and nodded her head as best as she could. As I looked at her, I could not help but compare her with Paul and Silas. Here was an older woman, trapped in a wheelchair by a body that would no longer function as it used to. I thought of her childhood, and imagined the way she used to run and play as the wind blew through her hair. I thought of her as a young woman, beautiful and so full of promise. Perhaps she was marri- ed and raised children. But now her time was drawing near and her body would not permit her to engage in the physical things she used to do. She was trapped but not bound. Nursing homes are paradoxical. I have spent much time in them over the years and have witnessed some of the saddest scenes I could ever imagine. At the same time, I have learned wonderful lessons about what it means to have our citizenship in heaven and our souls anchored there. So many older broth- ers and sisters in Christ, trapped in bodies that just would not function properly, have held my hand, smiled, and helped me to understand just exactly what Paul meant when he wrote, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18). Whatever happens to our bodies -- accident, sickness, or just the accumulative effects of age, may entrap us physically but the spirit of the faithful Christian cannot be bound. --- Greg Litmer in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 6, June, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090312/319ad29d/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Mar 13 04:10:34 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:10:34 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) DANIEL'S INTEGRITY Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: DANIEL'S INTEGRITY Daniel is loved for many things and his story yields multiple lessons -- perhaps none more so than the day he faced the lions' den. His integrity is seen throughout his life but especially in this event is that true. He was an exiled Jew, living in Babylon, which the Medes and Persians had recently conquered. Darius is now king. He takes note of the character of Daniel, who is probably in his eighties by now (Dan. 6:1-3). Already one of the three most important men in the empire, Daniel is in line to become the next prime minister. Things could not have been brighter for this for- eigner; yet, Daniel's success could not have made his life tough- er. Many of us assume that adversity is the greatest test of our character. When money is tight, work goes without reward, and life is a matter of holding on for better days, it seems that finding relief through moral compromise would entice anyone. Howev- er, the greatest test of character is...prosperity. Adversity simplifies life to the basics: food, clothing and shel- ter. Prosperity complicates it. When salary increases so do perks, privacy and temptations. All the while the enemy is trying to push us back down the ladder. The security you hoped to gain by making it to the top quickly fades. Only the Lord and our integrity will preserve us. Daniel found this to be true when he encountered prosperity's severest test. Growing jealous of Daniel's favored position, the other politi- cians sought grounds for accusing Daniel (6:4). Sifting through hsi life they hope to find any speck of dirt to be used against him. They go through his files, eavesdrop on his conversations and tail him for twenty-four hours a day. But not one crumb of corruption appears in their sieve. Daniel's life is clean. Because he was obedient to God's law he was also found blameless und- er man's law (6:5). That's when Daniel's accusers convince Darius to sign a decree that for thirty days praying to any god or man other than the king would be unlawful. The penalty for viol- ators? Death. The king does not realize the predicament this would cause for his trusted counselor. Daniel now has to choose between praying to God and obey- ing man's law. He knows the penalty (6:10). By continuing his practice of prayer he risks everything: his job, his house,his prestige and his life. That takes integrity. True to his character Daniel prays and his conspirators waste little time informing the king of the violation of his decree. As a result the king arrests Daniel and places him in a den of lions. Is this where a life of integrity and blame takes us? To a lion's den? Sometimes. Doing what is right may cost us our life. However, God delivered Daniel by closing the mouths of the lions and no harm came to him (6:22,23). Two thoughts come home to us: 1) True integrity implies that you do what is right when no one is looking or when every- one else is compromising. 2) Real integrity stays in place wheth- er the test is adversity or prosperity, good times or bad. Regard- less, you must do the right thing. ----- Rickie Jenkins in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 6, June, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090313/536a0a91/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Mar 13 04:11:06 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:11:06 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) STRENGTH THROUGH ADVERSITY Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. STRENGTH THROUGH ADVERSITY Abraham Lincoln has been quoted as saying that he was often driven to his knees because he had nowhere else to go. Faith grows best in the soil of adversity. Perhaps this is why Jesus said, "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Lk. 6:20); and again, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God" (Mk. 10:23). Like so many newly-weds, my wife and I had to live on a tight budget. But one month things became critical. We had a utility bill for $4.95, and no money to pay it. What were we to do? Just before the due date, I went to the mailbox and there was a note from one of my wife's cousins whom she hardly knew. Enclos- ed was a five-dollar bill that she thought we just might be able to use. Almost instantly, we looked up to God and gave thanks for His goodness. I must admit that if I should find a five dollar bill in my mail today, I would probably just put it in my pocket and say, "Now that's nice." Recently I learned of a brother who was being threatened with police action for his gospel work in a Communist country. I wrote him a brief note of encouragement. Almost immediately a long letter came back, thanking me for my prayers and expressing at considerable length his faith that God would work it all out for good. I wondered why such a lengthy and spiritual- ly positive response to my little note. Then I realized that he was facing a crisis with no one to depend on but God. I have seldom known an evangelist living in a foreign field who did not have a strong faith in God's special providence. Away form familiar sources of protection, available credit, mode- rn medical services, and away from brethren who might be will- ing to help, one feels more completely dependent on the Lord. Recently a letter form the wife of an evangelist in Africa reported a most depressing series of events that had taken place within a very brief period of time. However, there was no complaining -- certainly no bitterness -- just expressions of gratitude that God had brought them through their difficulties and that good was being accomplised. A "thorn in the flesh" troubled the apostle Paul. He prayed three times that it might be removed but the Lord, instead, gave him grace to bear it. And Paul's response was, "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast of my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12: 9,10). Without the thorn in the flesh, this lesson might not have been learned. Perhaps that is the reason it was not removed. But what if we have no thorn in the flesh? What if our life is so comfortable that we never suffer infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions or distresses for Christ's sake? We are in the position of an athlete who enters a weight lifting contest without ever lifting weights. If he hopes to win he had better be training himself by voluntarily straining to lift increasingly heavy weights. If we do not find ourselves tested, we would do well to test ourselves. Perhaps we should leave our "comfort zone" and undertake some task for the Lord that will require sacrifices on our part. This is not to encourage fool-hearty or reckless commitment to projects so much beyond our ability that others will have to rescue us from our folly. It is to suggest that we push ourselves beyond the limits we have formerly reached. It is to suggest that we undertake things for the Lord that make us vulnerable to the loss of comfort, luxury and other things we hold dear. I knew a wealthy businessman who always rode coach class instead of first class and gave the money he saved to the Lord. I could name families who mortgaged their homes or sold their cars to provide the needs of the church. One American family postponed air-conditioning their home to help buy a church building in Australia. Other families have chosen to spend vacat- ion time helping with gospel meetings in needy places rather than going to some popular amusement park. Still others have left their familiar home, climate and family to serve the Lord in foreign lands where many would hesitate to go. Each such sacrifice strengthens faith and draws us closer to the Lord. James wrote, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (Jas. 1:2,3). If we are not experiencing such trials, it may be that we are staying too close tot he shore; perhaps we need to "launch out into the deep" as Jesus instructed the disciples (Lk. 5:4). ------- Sewell Hall in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 6, June, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090313/100c9388/attachment-0001.html From kerux at bellsouth.net Fri Mar 13 06:31:53 2009 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:31:53 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] A>Eighteen Years To Live (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: Eighteen Years To Live (Kent Heaton) The period of a man's life is summed up by our Creator as merely a vapor that appears for a short time and then vanishes away (James 4:14). The greatest challenge we face is the reality of our mortality and the brevity of that transient journey called life. It is hard to conceive that life can be so short when all around us is full of life and vitality. Yet the numbering of our days is suggested by the psalmist Moses in his prayer to God. "For all our days have declined in Your fury; we have finished our years like a sigh. As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away. Who understands the power of Your anger and Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom" (Psalms 90:9-12). Moses does not suggest that all men will live to be seventy but the fullness of life is measured by a span of time for man but only a glimpse of eternity from the view of Heaven. He lived to be 120 years of age and "his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated" (Deuteronomy 34:7). Our lives are nothing more than a sigh and soon passed away. The lesson is for all of us to number our days and receive wisdom from our mortality. Viewing this passage from my own life I realize that Lord willing I have a span of eighteen years and if by strength twenty eight years. Added to this knowledge is the clear reality that my death can come today - at any moment. The lesson from Moses is not about the numbers but about the numbering. Wisdom helps us see through the eye of faith that life for the child of God must be viewed in light of eternity. Our lives are not measured by the marching of time but the time we march into that great city, the holy Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10-27). Facing death is what we all share and our understanding of that determines our outlook of life. Some are fully aware of their death as disease has crippled them and left little time for their lives to continue. I cannot grasp the measure of faith that men like Phil Roberts had in facing death nor of the faith of Gary Ogden who now faces his mortality. Countless children of God have stood at the door of death and viewed it not with fear but with the longing faith of one who wants to go home to the Father. Luke describes the death of Stephen as "falling asleep" (Acts 7:60) and Stephen was being murdered by a mob stoning him with stones. The horrible nature of death confuses our minds with the reality of death for the Christian. When Stephen was dying it was a terrible way to die; but he knew that in a moment of time his pain would cease and his life would be transformed from the earthly house to a "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1-9). Teach us to number our days and know the power of God that rests upon our lives now and especially the power of God that awaits us to carry us by angels to the bosom of Abraham (Luke 16:22). "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' And He said, 'Write, for these words are faithful and true'" (Revelation 21:4-5). May God grant us the eye of faith to see clearly the eternal home promised before time began (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 11:16). Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com Audio Sermons Available www.northfloridabiblecamp.com REGISTRATION NOW OPEN July 26 - August 1, 2009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090313/ded0c473/attachment-0001.html From tssullivan at charter.net Fri Mar 13 07:22:58 2009 From: tssullivan at charter.net (T. Sean Sullivan) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:22:58 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 004 Iss 010 Message-ID: <25C3537AF9D44F39BEEE340F541C150C@sean2e3f41f1ba> PDF Version Attached The Messenger 2009 Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ 306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059 Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan VOLUME 004::ISSUE 10: March 15, 2009 This Week's Article: What Is Your Name? It may be assumed that the term "Christian" is found all throughout the New Testament scriptures; when, in fact, it is only used in three locations. One of those mentions is found in Acts 11:26 where we can read, "And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." Today, we desire to be Christians and the scriptures clearly indicate the short and long-term benefits of this role. We must understand some things about being a Christian. The name "Christian" is exclusive and distinct. Only true followers of Christ were ever associated with this name, "Christian" in the New Testament. The term "Christian" has suffered in our modern context. "Christian" has become so generic that most every western religion is lumped together in "Christianity" and anyone who loosely accepts that Jesus is real is declared a Christian. The issue behind this problem is that too many fail to see the qualifications and responsibilities of becoming and continuing to be a "true Christian". Even the very fact that I must use the descriptive term "true" in association with Christian speaks clearly that there is a present day lack of understanding. We need to look closely at the name Christian. We need to study its true application and meaning so that we may wear that name and honor it as we should. What Is In A Name? Some have suggested the name Christian was a derogatory termed used to slander those who followed the will of God through Jesus Christ. This is simply not the case. One point of evidence is the fact that Peter in his first epistle considered his own brethren to be "Christians" (1 Peter 4:16). Peter would not espouse a derogatory term against his fellow disciples. The fact is that the scriptures declare the source of this name as Divine. We understand and can prove that God Himself gave the name Christian to the followers of His Son. The question now is, "Where is the proof?" The fact of God's involvement is recorded in Acts 11:26. The passage reads, "The disciples were first [divinely] called Christians at Antioch." At first glance the word "divinely" is not in this verse. Upon a closer examination we make note of the original Greek term that has been translated "called". In this verse it is not the typical "kaleo" but rather it is "chrematizo"-which literally means "divinely called". To further emphasize this point we must look back at Isaiah 62:1-2, "For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name." Now let's follow the progression leading up to the new name from God. The gospel of salvation is revealed in Jerusalem (Acts 2). The gospel is carried out from Jerusalem in every direction (Acts 8:4 "went everywhere preaching the word"). In Acts chapter ten, just as Isaiah prophesied, the Gentiles were added to the church. It is then that the name is given. What It Means To Be a Christian There is meaning associated with this God-given name. What does it mean to be a Christian? It means you have been saved through the obedience of the gospel-hearing and willingly obeying the word on every point-comprehensive belief-acting on our belief through obedience. For example I might believe that I must be baptized but until I become baptized my belief will merit me nothing. The Bible clearly points out that to become a Christian one must hear, believe and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as those in Peter's audience on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2:37-38). They heard the message of the gospel. They were convinced of their sins. When they came to this knowledge they wanted nothing other than freedom from their sins. They wanted to be saved. Peter instructed them to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins. In doing this they became Christians. Being a Christian also means that you are a disciple of Christ. A disciple is a follower. In this case a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word you are my disciples indeed" (John 8:31). To abide in is to live in. We must live within the boundaries the word, conducting our lives according to His word, studying to show ourselves approved of God (2 Timothy 2:15). How many, who call themselves Christians today, are truly abiding in His word? Living Up To Our Name We must make sure that we doing what we should to live up to the name Christian. Does your daily conduct live up to the standard that we have been discussing? Have you earned the right to be called a Christian? Are you faithfully following Christ? To faithfully follow Christ one must put God first (Matthew 26:39 "Your will not mine be done"). Our example is important because we are, to the world, ambassadors for Christ. When it is known that you are a Christian you will be looked upon as a reflection of what truly is a Christian. This is a lot of responsibility. Responsibility from which we cannot hide (Matthew 5:14-16). Conclusion: "Christian" is much more than a generic term denoting western religion. There are qualifications that must be met in order for you to be called a Christian. Doing what God has declared in His word as the standard. There are responsibilities involved in being a Christian. We must know that our conduct-our daily life is to reflect a true Christian. Others can be encouraged to seek God by our example or just the opposite they can become completely turned away. Our responsibility is to shine as lights in a world of darkness. If you are a Christian today, "Does your life honor that name?" If you are not yet a Christian, will you become one today? ~tss If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward this copy to them and send their email address and I will add them to the list. Sean -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090313/e2b286e8/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 3298 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090313/e2b286e8/attachment-0002.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 7810 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090313/e2b286e8/attachment-0003.gif From tedwards at onemain.com Fri Mar 13 10:18:27 2009 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:18:27 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 3/8/09 Message-ID: <49BA32F3.23019.390653@localhost> ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ March 8, 2009 ____________________________________________________ A Prosperous Journey by Walton Weaver Paul had a great desire to go to Rome. He knew however that if such an opportunity presented itself, God would have to open up the way. His prayer that God might do this for him is given to us in Romans 1:10: "Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you." He often shows his awareness of God's involvement in the everyday affairs of his life by the use of the expression "if the Lord (God) wills" (Acts 18:21; 1 Cor. 4:19; 16:7). We have to be careful lest we find ourselves living on the basis of human willfulness rather than the Divine will. God's providential will is not always according to our own wishes or desires. When Paul prayed that he might have a prosperous journey to Rome he likely had in mind a pleasant and comfortable journey. But let's notice how God answered Paul's prayer. Many Hardships Endured on the Way All was not easy. Things did not prove to be as pleasant and comfortable as Paul might have liked. After he prayed this prayer notice the kind of things that happened to him. 1. He was persecuted by the Jews. After Paul had come to Jerusalem for the last time, upon seeing him in the temple certain Jews from Asia "stirred up all the people and laid hands on him" (Acts 21:27). They accused him of teaching against the people, the law, and the temple. They also accused him of desecrating the temple by taking Gentiles into it, which they "supposed" he had done. After seizing Paul and dragging him out of the temple, they began beating him, and they set out to kill him, and would have done so, had it not been for the fact that word came to the chief captain of the band of soldiers that all of Jerusalem was in an uproar. They stopped beating Paul when they saw the chief captain and his soldiers. After he had been taken into custody by the chief captain (Acts 21:33), Paul asked to speak to the people and he was given permission to do so (Acts 21:39-40). The Jews gave a receptive ear to Paul's message until he spoke of his work among the Gentiles (Acts 22:21-22). "And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. And they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air" (Acts 22:22-23). This led the chief captain to command that Paul be brought into the castle where he had planned to examine Paul by scourging. But this plan was abandoned when Paul informed him that he was a Roman. The next day the chief captain allowed him to present his case before the chief priests and their council. This permission was granted to Paul for his own personal benefit. The chief captain wanted to know "the certainty whereof he was accused of the Jews." In his speech before the council Paul intentionally turned the Pharisees and Sadducees against each other by making reference to the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees sided with Paul since they believed in a resurrection from the dead (Acts 23:9). The dissension between the two groups became so severe that "the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle" (v. 10). The following night the Lord stood by Paul and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome" (v. 11). The next day Paul barely escaped a plot to kill him. He would not have escaped had it not been for a nephew who informed him of the plot. Paul sent him to the chief captain, who, upon learning of the plot, put together a large number of soldiers, horsemen, and spearmen to safely transport Paul to Caesarea. 2. He was brought before various Roman officials. In Caesarea Paul first appeared before Felix the governor. A letter had been sent by Claudius Lysias to the governor informing him of his rescue of Paul from the Jews and his knowledge of the nature of the charges brought against him which he had learned by Paul's appearance before the Jewish council. He told the governor that their charges had to do with their law, and therefore Paul had "nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds" (Acts 23:29). When Felix learned that Paul was of the province of Cilicia he agreed to have Paul and his accusers brought before him to hear his case (Acts 23:34-35). Luke gives an account of Paul's defense before Felix in Acts 24. The last verse of this chapter tells us that Paul remained in prison in Caesarea for a period of two years, and at the end of this period Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Only three days after succeeding Felix, Festus made a trip to Jerusalem. Upon his arrival at Jerusalem the Jews immediately made request of him that he would send for Paul to bring him to Jerusalem, "laying wait in the way to kill him" (Acts 25:3). Festus refused to give in to their request, but he did agree to allow their leaders to go to Caesarea and told them he would hear their case against Paul there. After hearing the charges against Paul and Paul's answer, Festus would have allowed Paul to go to Jerusalem and be tried before the Jews there, but Paul refused, saying, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I am an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar" (Acts 25:10-11). In a matter of only a few days Agrippa came to Caesarea to visit Festus. After Festus had fully informed the king about Paul's case, and the request Paul had made to appear before Caesar Augustus, Agrippa told Festus he would also hear Paul himself (Acts 25:22). Paul's defense before Agrippa is reported by Luke in Acts 26. After hearing Paul's case, Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar" (Acts 26:32). 3. He suffered shipwreck. Acts 27 gives a full account of Paul's trip by ship from Caesarea to Italy, and all the troubles encountered along the way. Not long after setting sail they began to encounter contrary winds. After some days of hard sailing and it had become certain that "sailing was now dangerous," Paul warned them not to proceed (Acts 27:10), but "the centurion believed the master and owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul" (Acts 27:11). So they set sail hoping to get to Phenice and winter there. But shortly after they had sailed by Crete there arose a "tempestuous wind, called Eurocyldon" (Acts 27:14), and from that point onward shipwreck was inevitable. Luke gives a detailed account of all the attempts that were made to avoid it, but eventually everything was lost except that no life was taken, just as Paul had been promised by the angel of God (Acts 27:21-26). After coming onto the island Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake, but he "shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm" (Acts 28:5). Was Paul's Journey a Prosperous One? With all these hardships being encountered before he finally arrived in Rome -- persecution by the Jews; arrest by the Romans, and imprisoned in Caesarea for two years; trials before Felix, Festus and Agrippa; suffering a shipwreck; being bitten by a viper -- was Paul's journey to Rome a prosperous journey? This was what he had prayed for when he said, "Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you" (Rom. 1:10). There are several reasons why we may say that Paul's journey to Rome was indeed a prosperous journey. 1. It was a journey made "by the will of God." Notice that on two occasions in particular the divine record tells us that the Lord stood by Paul to reassure him. After the chief captain rescued Paul from the hands of the Jews and took him into custody, the very next night "the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome" (Acts 23:11). Also, after Paul had been opposed by the centurion (Acts 27:11) and it was certain to Paul that the ship was going to be lost, Paul says, "There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul: thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee" (Acts 27:23-24). The Lord stands by those who stay close to him, so that their journey may be prosperous even though not free from adversity. 2. It was a journey that opened up doors of opportunity to testify of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before Felix Paul "reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come" (Acts 24:25). Festus heard him speak of "one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive" (Acts 25:19). Paul was able to affirm before both Festus and Agrippa all the work he had done among both the Jews and Gentiles: "Whereupon, O king Agrippa," he said, "I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance" (Acts 26:19-20). He also preached Christ from the prophets and Moses, "that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:22-23). On the island of Melita Paul healed many people of diseases, and as a result these barbarous people loaded them with such things as were necessary for them to make their voyage on to Rome (Acts 28:1-10). 3. In Rome the same opportunities were afforded him. As Paul drew near to Rome his journey was prosperous because the brethren had heard about his coming and came out to meet him. When Paul saw them, he "thanked God and took courage" (Acts 28:15). Even while imprisoned at Rome he appears to have been given private quarters (Acts 28:16). During this two years imprisonment he had "his own hired house, and received all that come unto him. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him" (Acts 28:30-31). During this two years period of imprisonment Paul wrote four of his letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. To the Philippians he said, "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel" (Phil. 1:12), and, "All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household" (Phil. 4:22) -- meaning that he had had much success in reaching some in Caesar's household with the gospel. A prosperous journey indeed! -- Via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 10 p19 May 18, 2000 ____________________________________________________ CHURCH OF CHRIST 201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn) Denham Springs, LA 70726 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 tedwards at onemain.com http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go DIRECTIONS: Take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) off of I-12. At the end of the exit ramp, turn north. Go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, and two other gas stations; with each on each corner.) Turn left on Rushing Road, and go less then 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on the right. We assemble in its meeting room, which is very close to the reception counter. ____________________________________________________ From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Mar 13 11:53:41 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:53:41 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR BILLY LOVELL Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here are the funeral arrangements for brother Billy Lovell: VISITATION: Saturday, March, 14, 5-9 P.M. At Spry Funeral Home on Hwy. 72 W. in Athens, Ala. Funeral Home phone: 256 232-2622. FUNERAL: Sunday, March 15, 2:00 P.M. At Spry Funeral Home mentioned above. -------- Brotherly, Jim Sasser Brother Billy Lovell's address and phone number is: 1709 W. Market St., Athens, Ala. 35611. Phone: 1-256-232-2104. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090313/e14560b2/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Mar 14 02:34:31 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:34:31 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Saturday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: GOD HAS SPOKEN When one becomes a Christian through his obedience to the teaching of Christ (Rom. 6:17,18), he enters into a covenant with God, the better covenant of which Jesus Christ is the Mediator (Heb. 8:6). In this covenant, God offers redemption in Christ, the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:6) received when one puts on Christ in Scriptural baptism (Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26,27). God has provided the sacrifice and has given instruction as to how every person may benefit from the sacrifice and may continue in His grace (1 Cor. 15:1;,2; Acts 13:43). Those who are fully persuaded by the message of God agree to His conditions and submit to His authority as supreme and complete, as Abraham did (Heb. 11:8- 12; Rom. 4:20,21). God promised, Abraham obeyed, and their covenant was fulfilled in due time. The covenant offered to mankind in Christ does not ask peo- ple to sit down and rest as passive supplicants in order to beco- me partakers. Rather, it commands obedience for every one who will receive it (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Heb. 5:8,9). The servants' reward is based on faithful service, not on sitting down (Matt. 25: 21,23-30; Rev. 22:12,13). The doing required is obedient doing, not merely doing something or doing nothing (Matt. 7:21-29). A person is not crowned unless he strives lawfully (2 Tim. 2:1-5). Acceptable worship is in spirit and truth (Jno. 4:24). Particulars matter in work and worship when God has specified (Lev. 10:1-3 Have you considered the covenant that God is offering you in Christ? Would you rather be with God or without Him? Will you accept His covenant and be His servant? Obey from the heart. ---------------- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090314/2fd438d6/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Mar 14 02:34:39 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:34:39 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN PREPARATION (1) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the begining install- ment of this particular study from my ancient files. Use to the glory of God. THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN PREPARATION (1) From the moment of the conception of a remedial system in the mind of Jehovah every phase of the evolvement and devel- opment of it was doubtless in the mind of the Almighty. With the statements of a prophetic character, successively enlarging on this intention, there was a culmulative body of information and evidence available to the interested portion of mankind. A highly desirable effect to be wrought was the creation of an attit- ude of expectancy with regard to the maturing of the avowed purpose. The God of Redemption is also the God of Providence and, as redemption is the ultimate in the design of Him who doe- th all things well, it is worthy of acknowledgment that He would direct providence in a course subservient to the ends of redemp- tion. That Providence has subserved the designs of God toward man is an indisputable truth, and, perhaps, has been as graphic- ally displayed in the life of Joseph, the son of Jacob, as in that of any other person in history. Certainly the seemingly insignifi- cant events of his life, when considered apart from him personal- ly, really assume great importance as links in the chain of divine providence in bringing to pass the predetermined purpose of God toward Israel, which was clearly discernible by Joseph after a series of occurrences in his life (Gen. 45:5). Equally true, and discernibly so, are those contributing factors developed in time which created those conditions in society so propitious for the advent of Christ. As much is suggested by Paul in his statement in Gal. 4:4 where he uses the expression:-- The Fulness Of The Time: -- "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Thus inspiration testifies that the Messiah came at exactly that time, or period of time, which God deemed altogether proper and propitious. But he came to redeem, and, since it was that point wherein time attain- ed fulness with respect to the divine purpose we must conclude that all things were most favorable then for the accomplishment of that sought. Then, to say that Christ came to establish His kingdom, but altered His intention because of the obduracy of the Jews is to impeach the statement here made as to the fulness or ripeness of the time of His coming. A reasonable re- gard and casual concern fro the conditions of society as they existed at the time Jesus came should confirm the truth of Paul's statement here. These conditions, when considered in connection with the coming of Jesus as the Savior of men, natur- ally require the answer to two questions: first, did mankind need a savior?; and, second, were there those conditions prevailing which would facilitate the dissemination of "the grace of God which brings salvation?" Each of these requires an affirmative answer if we are to accept the force of thsi expression regarding the timeliness of the Messiah's advent. (More will be posted on this subject Monday, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090314/39483338/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Mar 14 10:39:52 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:39:52 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] Fwd: FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR BILLY LOVELL Message-ID: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Subject: FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR BILLY LOVELL Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:53:41 EDT Size: 1874 Url: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090314/d0178c59/attachment-0001.mht From tedwards at onemain.com Sat Mar 14 19:38:05 2009 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:38:05 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 3/8/09 Message-ID: <49BC079D.21110.2602AEB@localhost> ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ March 8, 2009 ____________________________________________________ A Prosperous Journey by Walton Weaver Paul had a great desire to go to Rome. He knew however that if such an opportunity presented itself, God would have to open up the way. His prayer that God might do this for him is given to us in Romans 1:10: "Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you." He often shows his awareness of God's involvement in the everyday affairs of his life by the use of the expression "if the Lord (God) wills" (Acts 18:21; 1 Cor. 4:19; 16:7). We have to be careful lest we find ourselves living on the basis of human willfulness rather than the Divine will. God's providential will is not always according to our own wishes or desires. When Paul prayed that he might have a prosperous journey to Rome he likely had in mind a pleasant and comfortable journey. But let's notice how God answered Paul's prayer. Many Hardships Endured on the Way All was not easy. Things did not prove to be as pleasant and comfortable as Paul might have liked. After he prayed this prayer notice the kind of things that happened to him. 1. He was persecuted by the Jews. After Paul had come to Jerusalem for the last time, upon seeing him in the temple certain Jews from Asia "stirred up all the people and laid hands on him" (Acts 21:27). They accused him of teaching against the people, the law, and the temple. They also accused him of desecrating the temple by taking Gentiles into it, which they "supposed" he had done. After seizing Paul and dragging him out of the temple, they began beating him, and they set out to kill him, and would have done so, had it not been for the fact that word came to the chief captain of the band of soldiers that all of Jerusalem was in an uproar. They stopped beating Paul when they saw the chief captain and his soldiers. After he had been taken into custody by the chief captain (Acts 21:33), Paul asked to speak to the people and he was given permission to do so (Acts 21:39-40). The Jews gave a receptive ear to Paul's message until he spoke of his work among the Gentiles (Acts 22:21-22). "And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. And they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air" (Acts 22:22-23). This led the chief captain to command that Paul be brought into the castle where he had planned to examine Paul by scourging. But this plan was abandoned when Paul informed him that he was a Roman. The next day the chief captain allowed him to present his case before the chief priests and their council. This permission was granted to Paul for his own personal benefit. The chief captain wanted to know "the certainty whereof he was accused of the Jews." In his speech before the council Paul intentionally turned the Pharisees and Sadducees against each other by making reference to the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees sided with Paul since they believed in a resurrection from the dead (Acts 23:9). The dissension between the two groups became so severe that "the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle" (v. 10). The following night the Lord stood by Paul and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome" (v. 11). The next day Paul barely escaped a plot to kill him. He would not have escaped had it not been for a nephew who informed him of the plot. Paul sent him to the chief captain, who, upon learning of the plot, put together a large number of soldiers, horsemen, and spearmen to safely transport Paul to Caesarea. 2. He was brought before various Roman officials. In Caesarea Paul first appeared before Felix the governor. A letter had been sent by Claudius Lysias to the governor informing him of his rescue of Paul from the Jews and his knowledge of the nature of the charges brought against him which he had learned by Paul's appearance before the Jewish council. He told the governor that their charges had to do with their law, and therefore Paul had "nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds" (Acts 23:29). When Felix learned that Paul was of the province of Cilicia he agreed to have Paul and his accusers brought before him to hear his case (Acts 23:34-35). Luke gives an account of Paul's defense before Felix in Acts 24. The last verse of this chapter tells us that Paul remained in prison in Caesarea for a period of two years, and at the end of this period Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Only three days after succeeding Felix, Festus made a trip to Jerusalem. Upon his arrival at Jerusalem the Jews immediately made request of him that he would send for Paul to bring him to Jerusalem, "laying wait in the way to kill him" (Acts 25:3). Festus refused to give in to their request, but he did agree to allow their leaders to go to Caesarea and told them he would hear their case against Paul there. After hearing the charges against Paul and Paul's answer, Festus would have allowed Paul to go to Jerusalem and be tried before the Jews there, but Paul refused, saying, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I am an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar" (Acts 25:10-11). In a matter of only a few days Agrippa came to Caesarea to visit Festus. After Festus had fully informed the king about Paul's case, and the request Paul had made to appear before Caesar Augustus, Agrippa told Festus he would also hear Paul himself (Acts 25:22). Paul's defense before Agrippa is reported by Luke in Acts 26. After hearing Paul's case, Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar" (Acts 26:32). 3. He suffered shipwreck. Acts 27 gives a full account of Paul's trip by ship from Caesarea to Italy, and all the troubles encountered along the way. Not long after setting sail they began to encounter contrary winds. After some days of hard sailing and it had become certain that "sailing was now dangerous," Paul warned them not to proceed (Acts 27:10), but "the centurion believed the master and owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul" (Acts 27:11). So they set sail hoping to get to Phenice and winter there. But shortly after they had sailed by Crete there arose a "tempestuous wind, called Eurocyldon" (Acts 27:14), and from that point onward shipwreck was inevitable. Luke gives a detailed account of all the attempts that were made to avoid it, but eventually everything was lost except that no life was taken, just as Paul had been promised by the angel of God (Acts 27:21-26). After coming onto the island Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake, but he "shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm" (Acts 28:5). Was Paul's Journey a Prosperous One? With all these hardships being encountered before he finally arrived in Rome -- persecution by the Jews; arrest by the Romans, and imprisoned in Caesarea for two years; trials before Felix, Festus and Agrippa; suffering a shipwreck; being bitten by a viper -- was Paul's journey to Rome a prosperous journey? This was what he had prayed for when he said, "Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you" (Rom. 1:10). There are several reasons why we may say that Paul's journey to Rome was indeed a prosperous journey. 1. It was a journey made "by the will of God." Notice that on two occasions in particular the divine record tells us that the Lord stood by Paul to reassure him. After the chief captain rescued Paul from the hands of the Jews and took him into custody, the very next night "the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome" (Acts 23:11). Also, after Paul had been opposed by the centurion (Acts 27:11) and it was certain to Paul that the ship was going to be lost, Paul says, "There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul: thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee" (Acts 27:23-24). The Lord stands by those who stay close to him, so that their journey may be prosperous even though not free from adversity. 2. It was a journey that opened up doors of opportunity to testify of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before Felix Paul "reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come" (Acts 24:25). Festus heard him speak of "one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive" (Acts 25:19). Paul was able to affirm before both Festus and Agrippa all the work he had done among both the Jews and Gentiles: "Whereupon, O king Agrippa," he said, "I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance" (Acts 26:19-20). He also preached Christ from the prophets and Moses, "that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:22-23). On the island of Melita Paul healed many people of diseases, and as a result these barbarous people loaded them with such things as were necessary for them to make their voyage on to Rome (Acts 28:1-10). 3. In Rome the same opportunities were afforded him. As Paul drew near to Rome his journey was prosperous because the brethren had heard about his coming and came out to meet him. When Paul saw them, he "thanked God and took courage" (Acts 28:15). Even while imprisoned at Rome he appears to have been given private quarters (Acts 28:16). During this two years imprisonment he had "his own hired house, and received all that come unto him. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him" (Acts 28:30-31). During this two years period of imprisonment Paul wrote four of his letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. To the Philippians he said, "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel" (Phil. 1:12), and, "All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household" (Phil. 4:22) -- meaning that he had had much success in reaching some in Caesar's household with the gospel. A prosperous journey indeed! -- Via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 10 p19 May 18, 2000 ____________________________________________________ CHURCH OF CHRIST 201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn) Denham Springs, LA 70726 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 tedwards at onemain.com http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go DIRECTIONS: Take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) off of I-12. At the end of the exit ramp, turn north. Go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, and two other gas stations; with each on each corner.) Turn left on Rushing Road, and go less then 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on the right. We assemble in its meeting room, which is very close to the reception counter. ____________________________________________________ From GLClair at aol.com Sun Mar 15 06:36:57 2009 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 07:36:57 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] ARTICLE - "CELEBRATIONS" Message-ID: Celebrations Barbara and I just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary (i.e. March 7, 2009). I am always encouraged to see Christians celebrate great occasions in their lives. Some of the occasions that I find great are: 1. A marriage of a man and a woman 2. A married couple (i.e. man and woman) who discover that they will soon have a new family member 3. The birth of all their children 4. The first wedding anniversary and all wedding anniversaries there-after 5. A child?s graduation from kindergarten 6. A child?s graduation to middle-school 7. A child?s graduation from high school 8. A child?s graduation from college 9. A child that becomes a Christian while young As a grand-parent: 1. Seeing our children succeed in life 2. Seeing our children become Christians 3. Our first grand-child 4. The success of our children?s marriage 5. The progress of our grand-children in school 6. Our grand-children becoming Christians As an individual: 1. Becoming a Christian 2. Seeing the value of faithful service to God Keeping my desires under control (i.e. buffeting my body daily) - 1 Cor. 9:25-27, 25 and every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (KJV) 3. Serving God, my brethren, and my neighbors as true Christians ought - Mark 12:30-33, 30 and thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart , and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. (KJV) _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) SEE ALSO ? considermagazine.com March 15, 2009 **************Worried about job security? Check out the 5 safest jobs in a recession. (http://jobs.aol.com/gallery/growing-job-industries?ncid=emlcntuscare00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090315/26e0137b/attachment-0001.html From wswalker310 at juno.com Sun Mar 15 08:56:15 2009 From: wswalker310 at juno.com (Wayne S Walker) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 08:56:15 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] hymn study, "On the Cross of Calvary" (for 3/14) Message-ID: <20090315.164711.3596.0.wswalker310@juno.com> Wayne Walker here with another weekly hymn study. "ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY" "...And He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost" (Jn. 19:30) INTRO.: A song which reminds us of how Jesus bowed His head and gave up His spirit when He died is "On the Cross of Calvary" (#309 in Sacred Selections for the Church). In most of our older books, the text is attributed to "C. F. G" (although in some books it looks like "C. F. O.," probably due to smudging of ink.) It was believed to have been first published in the 1886 Good News in Song edited by Joshua Gill and George A. McLaughlin (1851-1933). Some have assumed that the "C. F. G." may have referred to Joshua Gill. However, it would seem that in Good News in Song, the hymn was attributed to Lizzie Douglas Foulkes DeArmond (1843-1936). DeArmond was a hymn writer who is also credited with "Good Night and Good Morning," "If Your Heart Keeps Right," and "Oh, the Things We May Do." Gill may have altered or arranged the words of "On the Cross of Calvary" for his book. Further research has indicated that the text was actually written by Sarah Jean Graham, who was born around 1854 and was a member of the Salvation Army at Lindsay in Ontario, Canada. It is reported that her fiance died of tuberculosis and that she never recovered from that trauma. "On the Cross of Calvary" first appeared in the initial issue of the Salvation Army's Musical Salvationist in July of 1866. The author was not listed at the beginning, but in the 1931 San Francisco, CA, issue of Salvation Army magazine The War Cry, Thomas W. Scott credited the song to Graham, who had died around 1889. The tune is sometimes attributed to William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921). However, he is not identified as the composer in either the Musical Salvationist or Good News in Song, but was later said to have arranged it in 1906. Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord's church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, the song appeared in the 1923 Choice Gospel Hymns edited by Thomas B. Mosley; the 1927 Sweeter Than All Songs edited by C. M. Pullias; the 1935 Christian Hymns (No. 1) edited by L. O. Sanderson; the 1940 Complete Christian Hymnal and the 1960 Hymnal both edited by Marion Davis; and the 1944 Gospel Songs and Hymns edited by Will W. Slater. Today it may be found in the 1971 Songs of the Church edited by Alton H. Howard; and the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand; in addition to Sacred Selections, and the 2007 Sacred Songs of the Church edited by William D. Jeffcoat. The song emphasizes several facts related to what happened on the cross. I. Stanza 1 talks about the shedding of Jesus's blood "On the cross of Calvary, Jesus died for thee and me; There He shed His precious blood, That from sin we might be free. O, the cleansing stream doth flow, And it washes white as snow: It was for me that Jesus died On the cross of Calvary." A. Calvary is the Latin name for the hill Golgotha upon which Jesus died for us: Lk. 23:33 B. It was there that Jesus shed His blood for the remission of our sins: Matt. 26:28 C. As a result of this cleansing stream, those who come to Christ can be washed as white as snow: Isa. 1:18 II. Stanza 2 talks about the demonstation of God's love "O what wondrous, wondrous love Brought me down at Jesus' feet! O such wondrous, dying love Asks a sacrifice complete! Lord, I give myself to Thee, Soul and body Thine to be: It was for me Thy blood was shed On the cross of Calvary." A. In the death of Christ for sinners God demonstrated His wondrous love: Rom. 5:8 B. However, such wondrous love asks us in turn to present ourselves a living sacrifice to God: Rom. 12:1-2 C. Therefore, we must give ourselves wholly to Him, living Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength: Mk. 12:29-30 III. Stanza 3 talks about the cleansing from sin that is available "Take me, Jesus, I am Thine, Wholly Thine forevermore. Blessed Jesus, Thou are mine; Dwell within forevermore. Cleanse, O cleanse my heart from sin; Make and keep me pure within: It was for this Thy blood was shed On the cross of Calvary." A. In order to have the blessings of God's love, we must let Jesus take us so that we can be wholly His in obedience to His will: Heb. 5:8-9 B. Only when we do this can we expect Him to be ours and dwell within our hearts by faith: Eph. 3:17 C. And only then will He cleanse our hearts from sin as He did David: Ps. 51:7-11 IV. Stanza 4 talks about the suffering that Jesus experienced for our freedom "Clouds and darkness veiled the sky When the Lord was crucified; 'It is finished,' was His cry When He bowed His dead and died. It was finished there for me; All the world may now go free: It was for me that Jesus died On the cross of Calvary." A. While Jesus was on the cross being crucified, clouds and darkness veiled the sky: Mk. 15:33 B. When He died, Jesus said, "It is finished," because that is what He came to do--finish God's scheme of redemption for us: Jn. 17:4 C. Because it was finished, the whole world may now be free from sin: Rom. 6:17-18 CONCL.: The chorus repeats the fact that it was on Calvary that Jesus died for each one of us. "On Calvary, on Calvary, It was for me that Jesus died On the Cross of Calvary." In many churches it is a custom to sing a song before the Lord's supper that is specifically designed to prepare the minds of the worshippers for partaking of the divine feast. This song has often been used for such a purpose, and it is a good one to do so, since the communion is a time when we especially need to remember that Jesus died for us "On the Cross of Calvary." Brotherly, Wayne S. Walker 9024 Amona Dr. Affton, MO 63123 home phone: (314) 638-4710 e-mail: wswalker310 at juno.com website: www.defenderoftruth.com Notes: Other hymn studies are available at the Defender of Truth website. Also, some of my previous hymn studies are now included in book that I have written entitled Songs of Zion. It can be ordered from the publisher by calling 1-800-423-2484 or going to www.faith-facts.com . And I have a Hymn Studies blog at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hymnstudies/ . In addition, since this has been called to my attention, I now feel it necessary to include this disclaimer with each message. As owner of this list, I have nothing to do with the ads and links that Yahoogroups sends out with the Hymn of the Day posts nor do I have any control over them. I do not necessarily approve of them and I do not always endorse those who have placed them with Yahoogroups. ____________________________________________________________ Digital Photography - Click Now. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmRCrfrZxvLU4BI9QspE9IpzTjT54CDJE3kRrhPCr09nWiMOYbG/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090315/731f9357/attachment-0001.html From richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com Sun Mar 15 19:22:56 2009 From: richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:22:56 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (3/15/09) Message-ID: <20090316002547.BD63723006C@dumbledore.whizardries.com> Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) March 15, 2009 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "Things to Think On" (Richard Thetford) "Bible Fellowship Must Not Be Confused With Worldly Entertainment" (Lalo Enriquez) "SENTENCE SERMONS --- THINGS TO THINK ON Richard Thetford Every waking hour of our life our mind is thinking of something. How good it is when we can train our mind to think on good things. Paul said "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" (Philippians 4:8). A Christian's thoughts should be centered on godly things, not evil. Some may ask "Can our thoughts be controlled?" In 2 Corinthians 10:5 we read: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;". From what Paul said it is obvious that we can control our thoughts if we work at it. Why Think On The Good Things? We should think on good things first of all because we are commanded to do so. Paul said "if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). Paul is speaking through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, therefore we must treat what he says as a command of God. We also need to think on good things because we are as we think. Solomon wrote: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.." (Proverbs 23:7). If we are thinking of good things then we won't be defiled (Matthew 15:19-20). God knows our thoughts and knowing that God knows our thoughts should motivate us to only want to think on the good things (1 Corinthians 3:20). And if we think on the good things there will be less chance of us sinning. For when we sin then we must ask God to forgive us of that sin. In Acts 8:22 we can read where evil thoughts need to be repented of. "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." If we would take Paul's advice (command) and think on the good things then we would not have to repent of evil thoughts. What Should We Think On? We should train our mind to think on the Lord's thoughts. Isaiah said "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:7-9). We need to remember that God's thoughts are not like ours. Where man would see no problem in doing something (Instrumental Music, Fun, Food, Frolic, etc.), God does see a problem with it and has set forth His way of worshiping Him in His written word, the Bible. We must ensure that we strive to think as the Lord would think and then so do. We should think on honorable things (Romans 12:17). We need to think about our savior Jesus Christ and why He came to this earth. He came and suffered, bled, and died so that you and I can have forgiveness of sins (Romans 6:3-4). Our mind will always be thinking of different things as we go about our daily business. But let us train our mind to think on the good things that Paul stressed in Philippians 4:8. If we would allow God to direct our every step in life (Jeremiah 10:23), then it would be so much easier. Let us resolve now to give our heart and mind over to Jesus and let His example lead us each day as we strive to be the right influence before others. Won't you be determined now to set your mind on thinking of good things and to follow the teachings of Jesus? --- BIBLE FELLOWSHIP MUST NOT BE CONFUSED WITH WORLDLY ENTERTAINMENT Lalo Enriquez Brother Guy N. Woods once said: "The ship of Zion has floundered more than once on the sandbar of institutionalism" (Abilene Christian College Lectures, 1939). He was referring to human organizations usurping the work and autonomy of the local church. If brother Woods were alive today he probably would be saying something similar, but with reference to a present worldly danger in many churches of Christ. It would read like this: "The ship of Zion is floundering on the sandbar of the "social and entertainment gospel." It seems that "coffee and donuts, breakfasts, tri-tip dinners, clown shows, volleyball tournaments, Super Bowl "services," ad infinitum, are the only way many churches can satisfy their memberships. Fun, fun, worldly fun. The beautiful New Testament word "fellowship" is now routinely spoken of only in a profane way to describe fun and other world activities. The Bible definition of fellowship pertains to spiritual activity, i.e., worship, Lord's Supper, Bible studies, giving prayer time, etc. Yet, many today are heard to say: "After worship, we'll meet in the 'fellowship hall' and have 'fellowship' (food, refreshments, party, fun, etc)." According to God, the worship service was the fellowship! - Scriptural fellowship! And then in the same breath, some of these brethren who have perverted this beautiful word will say, "We must speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent!" Amazing! --- SENTENCE SERMONS Failure can help us to succeed if we learn from it. Instead of seeing things as they are, we often see things as we are. He who has a "why" to live can put up with the "how." A lot of folks need to give their minds a bath. Sleeping saints serve Satan - but should awake into righteousness. God has included you in His plans. Have you included God in your plans? We should temper our temper and be tender hearted. As Christians we must function, or we will fizzle. --- SERMON LET US DRAW NEAR TO GOD (with PowerPoint charts AND Audio) www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org MEETING TIMES Sunday Bible Study..........10:00 A.M. Worship........11:00 A.M. Wednesday Bible Study........6:30 P.M. Evangelist/Editor Richard Thetford Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090315/133f5a05/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 14927 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090315/133f5a05/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 177 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090315/133f5a05/attachment-0004.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 9662 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090315/133f5a05/attachment-0005.gif From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Mar 16 05:39:23 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:39:23 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Monday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an artic- le from my files: THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into HIs death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3,4, NASB). Clearly, baptism is no mere symbol or ritual. Bapt- ism is what enters us into union with Christ! Baptism into Christ establishes a real spiritual connection to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism Into The Death Of Christ: -- Baptism is not just about re- ceiving the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), it is our union with the death of Jesus! "All of us who have been baptiz- ed into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death" (Rom. 6:3). Jesus the Savior died for our sins. Sin is what brought Him to the cross. Rather than a continued desire for sin after baptism, there should be a hatred and rejection of sin, the very thing that caused Jesus to die in the first place. "And He Him- self bore our sins in HIs body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were heal- ed" (1 Pet. 2:24). Baptism into Christ is absolutely essential to putting to death our sins: "For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Rom. 6:5,6). Buried With Christ: -- The word baptism literally means "Immers- ion." Every person including Jesus, who was baptized was imm- ersed (not sprinkled or poured) in water (e.g. Mk. 1:9,10; Acts 8: 38,39). That is why the apostle Paul says to the Christians at Rome: "...We have been buried with Him through baptism..." (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:11,12). A burial best represents baptism (i.e., immersion). There is great spritual significance to being buried with Jesus. Just as a real burial involves a real death, so does baptism (which is a "burial" ) result in a real spiritual death to sin. Baptism is not merely a "good work" nor is it to be done as a public display of becoming a member of a local church. Bapti- sm into Christ is essential to putting to death our sins! Raised With Christ: -- Baptism into Christ introduces us to a new life! "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead throu- gh the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). Baptism is necessary "so we too" may rise to live a new life. Just as Christ was raised or "born again" from the dead (Rev. 1:5; Col. 1:18), we too are raised or "born again" to a new life after baptism (Jno. 3:3,5). "Newness of life" entails all spiritual blessings that are given in Christ (Eph. 1:3). Specific- ally, we are not longer "dead in sin" (Eph. 2:1,2), but instead "dead to sin" and "alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 6:11). There is "newness of life" because each Christian is now a new person in Christ, living life in service to God, not sin: "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things pass- ed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Cor. 5:17). Only those who have been baptized into Christ are "in Christ" and are living the new life in Him. Salvation Through Christ: -- "And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you -- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience -- through the resu- rrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21). This straight forward passage about baptism makes it perfectly clear that baptism is fopr our salvation. Those who dismiss baptism as non-essent- ial or optional, ignore this plain statement of Scripture. Baptism does not in any way diminish the achievement of Christ on the cross for our sins. Instead, baptism is a commandment we must obey to gain access to the saving power of Jesus. Notice what makes baptism powerful: Not the water itself ("the removal of dirt from the flesh"), but the appeal we make to God "for a good conscience -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21). Jesus is still the means of our salvation, eternal life is still a free gift (Rom. 6:23), we are simply meeting the Lord's condit- ion for salvation as commanded in Scripture: "He who has belie- ved and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelived shall be condemned" (Mk. 16:16). Added To The Body Of Christ: -- When a person is baptized into Christ, they are also, at the exact same moment, added to the body of Christ: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13). His body is the church: "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all" (Eph. 1:22,23; Col. 1: 18). To belong to the Lord's church, there is no waiting for a "church committee" to give their approval. Instead, when you are baptized into Christ you are automatically added to His church and belong to the saved! "Then Peter said to them, 'Re- pent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit...Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them...And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:38,41,47, NKJV). See also Heb. 12:22,23. Make Sure You Have Been Baptized Into Christ! -- No one is a disciple of Christ until he or she has been baptized into His name (Matt. 28:18-20). No one is "in Christ", a part of Christ, or has fellowship with Christ until he or she comes to Christ in faith to be baptized into Him. "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:26,27). If you have faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (Jno. 3:16; Acts 16:31ff), are will- ing to confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:37), then you are ready to be baptized! If you have not yet done so, be baptized into Christ today! ------ Mark Larson via Gospel Power, Vol. 16, No. 6, Feb. 8, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090316/245e2656/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Mar 16 05:39:47 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:39:47 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN PREPARATION (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second part of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN PREPARATION (2) The Fullness Of The Time (cont.) -- It should be observed in con- sidering the first of these questions that man had been in need of a savior through all the centuries from the time os hsi expuls- ion from the garden of Eden. However, an awareness of this need had not always prevailed for a lack of a sufficient sense of guilt, and an accompanying recognition of his own inability to save himself. Time, involving four thousand years, was required to teach this much needed lesson to the sons and daughters of men. While mankind, for the greater part, was left to his own de- visings as he sought to "work out his own salvation"; neverthe- less, God through all this time was maintaining a connection and relation with individuals and, finally, a nation through whom the world should become increasingly educated relative to the omnipotence of God on the one hand, and their own utter impot- ency on the other. The continuation of moral decline, descend- ing to the plane of bestiality, is noted by Paul in Rom. 1. Profess- ing themselves to be wise they became fools, and in the progres-sion of selfhood they declined to entertain a knowledge of the true God. Jehovah, however, did not view as excusable this ignorance of His existence and power; for the invisible things of God -- eternal power and Godhead -- are to be clearly seen from the creation, being understood by the things which are made. They, consequently, were given up to their vain imaginations and allowed to work all manner of uncleanness in the exercise of vile affections. The Jews were likewise brought under the same sweeping and severe indictment of sin by the apostle in the second and third chapters of Romans. No one can read these first chapters of Romans without perceiving the all-embra- cing sovereignty of sin and the depths of debauchery to which it had brought the human family. Thus is to be observed the indisputable need which existed for a Savior to deliver man from sin. Arising, however, with such a recognition of need for salvation is the additional question of whether there was in the possession of man the means and cap- acity to effect his own deliverance from sin. To this problem a great deal of attention is directed in showing conclusively that there existed no law which could give life -- even the law of Moses was unworthy and incapable of securing such an end. "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." Hence, in the fulness of time God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, make under the law, to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons. Not only was the law unable to deliver us from sin, but consequently and correspondingly, was it unable to establish a satisfying relation to God as His children. The second question mentioned above -- that is, was man- kind in that state or condition which would afford a favorable dissemination of the gospel involving those conditions bearing on communication of thought from one segment of society to another. The grace of God, we are told, that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men TEACHING US -- Christianity is a syst- em -- a system of teaching -- and its existence and progress is dependent on teaching. Paul left Timothy in Ephesus that he might charge some that they should teach no other doctrine than that which they had received from the apostle. Men are going to be taught something and if they do not receive the truth they will imbibe error. The apostasy resulted from a distaste for the truth and an infatuation for unsound teaching; the greatest peril before the people of God at this hour is the same lack of de- votion to, and hunger for, the truth. To teach is to impart ideas, and ideas are clothed in words; and, to learn is to receive ideas or thoughts as embodied in and indentified with facts and related truths. Properly speaking, there can be no teaching where there is no learning, and language is the medium of con- tact between the teacher and the one who is to be taught, and, hence, to learn. Words and ideas are inseparable, the former being the embodiment of the latter. From this it is readily apparent that the facility with which the gospel was to be proclaimed to all men sustained a vital depend- ency on the language to be employed. While true that in the infancy fo the church the gift of tongues was generously bestow- ed on and employed by the original proclaimers, yet in the over- all evangelization of the world the need for a widely existing lang- uage of prevailing influence was obvious. Too, a language that would be such as to stereotype the heavenly message of redem- ption was a necessity in order to afford future generations prop- er assurance respecting the integrity and credibility of this mess- age. In the Greek language at the time of Christ were these de- mands met. The political state of human society under the Roman gover- nment with the prevailing peace at the time of the Messiah's ad- vent is another advantage contributing to the spread of the truth, as well as the commercial intercourse in the then known world. All of these factors are worthy of a more elaborate notice, but we pass them with this bare mention of them with whatever value of a suggestive nature they may possess. (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090316/04400ed2/attachment-0001.html From terrywbenton at bellsouth.net Mon Mar 16 10:28:28 2009 From: terrywbenton at bellsouth.net (Terry W. Benton) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:28:28 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] S>The Power of the Church #2 Message-ID: <86F36E3E72E74462A1E0B06B525A1C35@TerryPC> Terry to the list: Please check out these lessons and send this notice to people you know who could benefit from these lessons. Sunday Evening: The Power of the Church #2 : Baptism of the Holy Spirit This lesson from Acts 1 looks at The Baptism of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus and performed from heaven by Jesus to give POWER to the Apostles in their testimony. In this lesson we also show how the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is misunderstood and how it can be properly understood, and then in proper understanding be able to relate how this Baptism upon the Apostles empowered and confirmed the message of salvation, the living waters that would give life and strength to God's people. Check out the audio and PowerPoint presentation here: www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com Sunday Morning: Free Indeed A look at Jesus' statement in John 8 that believing is not enough. One must continue in his word as a disciple to know the truth and the truth would set the studious believer free, and it would be real freedom, "free indeed". We expound upon what this freedom is and is not. We hope you take the time to study this with us so that you will understand and enjoy being "free indeed". What did Jesus mean? Check out this audio and PowerPoint at : www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com Best Wishes From Terry W. Benton www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com "Choose Ye This Day...." (Joshua 24:15) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090316/35a4dd7e/attachment-0001.html From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Mon Mar 16 13:51:43 2009 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:51:43 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S:> Romans 8:24-30: Our Hope Message-ID: Romans 8:24-30: Our Hope I. Base Text: Romans 8:24-30 II. Understanding the Text A. "This hope" (Romans 8:24) 1. What is "this hope"? 2. Romans 8:19-23: redemption of bodies, groaning of creation for renewal 3. Romans 8:18: glory to appear greater than difficulties suffered 4. Romans 8:14-17: adoption as sons of God, heirs of God 5. Romans 8:1-13: contrast of living according to flesh, living according to Spirit-- need to live according to Spirit B. The Nature of Hope (Romans 8:24-25) 1. Saved in "this hope"-- promises of God fulfilled in Gospel, expectations of promises of Jesus' return, resurrection, and eternal life (Romans 1:16, Acts 17:30- 31, 1 Corinthians 15) 2. Hope as unseen-- if perceived, no longer hope! 3. We wait with patience to have our hope realized C. Intercession of the Spirit (Romans 8:26-27) 1. We live in weakness 2. Spirit assists us, interceding for us before God, inexpressible groanings 3. Spirit intercedes for saints, God knows the thoughts of the Spirit D. All Things For Good (Romans 8:28) 1. An encouraging statement! 2. For all who love God, things work out for good 3. May not always be evident how, but they do! 4. Consider Joseph-- Genesis 37-50 5. Suffered many things, yet it worked out for good (Genesis 50:20) E. Predestination, Foreknowledge, Conformity (Romans 8:29-30) 1. Another difficult couple of verses 2. Consider also Ephesians 1:3-6 3. Predestination as based in God's foreknowledge 4. God not violating free will-- an encouraging passage for believers 5. Ephesians 3:11: God's eternal plan 6. God calls through Gospel, likely knows who will obey it to the end, who will not 7. Believers as experiencing conformity to the image of the Son (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1, Galatians 2:20, 1 John 2:6) 8. Jesus thus Firstborn of many brothers 9. Those predestined called, those called justified, those justified glorified 10. Not some mysterious heavenly working, but according to God's revelation 11. Called: Matthew 22:9, 14, 2 Peter 1:3-- that God calls believers does not deny that God also would call unbelievers! 12. Justified: Romans 5:9; 6:7, Galatians 3:8, James 2:24-25 13. Glorified: John 17:1, Acts 3:13-- cf. Philippians 2:5-11 14. Past tense not saying that all things have already happened-- past tense indicates that we can have great confidence that it will take place, as if it has already happened! III. Application A. Living in Hope 1. From Romans 8:24-25, we see that we are currently living by hope 2. cf. 1 Corinthians 13:10 3. Hope that we will be saved as we are currently saved (1 Peter 1:3-9) 4. Hope that we will obtain the redemption of our bodies 5. Our faith, life, confidence-- all in hope! 6. Hope not worthless; instead, most valuable! 7. Hope as leading to patience: since we have not yet obtained it, but look for it, we gain patience and endurance so that we can obtain it (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, James 1:2-4) 8. The things God has promised us are awesome-- let us hope for them in patience! B. Intercession of the Spirit 1. Realization of our weaknesses: we do not know all things for which we should pray 2. Spirit as interceding for us-- the Spirit is on our side! 3. Extremely encouraging to consider C. All Things Leading to Good 1. A statement we have to take on faith! 2. Many times circumstances do not look like they will be positive in the least 3. Yet for those who love God, all things work out for good (Romans 8:28) 4. Consider Joseph, Esther, others 5. "Good" may not always be something pleasant-- perhaps the "good" is growth in character (James 1:2-4) 6. Do we have enough faith in God to accept that even if circumstances seem dire, all things will eventually work out for the good? D. Comfort From Predestination and Foreknowledge 1. Romans 8:29-30 often passed over or explained away because of its difficulties 2. Yet, when we understand what Paul is trying to do, we can gain great encouragement 3. Not a denial of free will, acceptance of Augustinian Calvinism 4. Recognition that God's hand is still there throughout our lives (Ephesians 3:11)! 5. God has provided the means by which we can be saved 6. God presides over our calling, justification, and glorification 7. God knows us in advance, and based on His knowledge of what will be done, He makes sure that the way is paved for our salvation! 8. This does not deny our need to hear the Word, believe it, and obey it! 9. It also does not mean that God has already predetermined who will be saved and condemned based only in His sovereign choice! 10. It does mean, however, that we're not going to lose out in some cosmic accident, or somehow be passed over 11. This is to encourage: God's care for us from before the foundation of the world! IV. Conclusion A. This passage quite controversial and contentious for many reasons B. Nevertheless, great encouragement to be gained from Romans 8:24-30 1. Hope of salvation 2. Intercession of the Spirit 3. All things work out for good for those who love God 4. God foreknows those who will be His, paves the way so that they can be saved C. Let us praise God for such a wonderful salvation and strive to do His will! D. Invitation/songbook Ethan R. Longhenry / disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus Spiritual Manna A biweekly devotional for your life. http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/manna From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Mon Mar 16 14:40:48 2009 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:40:48 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S:> Job Message-ID: Job I. Introduction A. Job: a man of suffering 1. Out of history books, into wisdom literature 2. The story of Job B. Why does man suffer? 1. The author of Job does well at showing why normal reasons are not always accurate 2. Is an answer really given? C. Let us consider the book II. Job: The Details A. Authorship 1. Author entirely unknown 2. References to Job in Ezekiel 14:14; 20, James 5:11 B. Dating 1. Also relatively unknown 2. Job himself generally believed to have lived in Patriarchal period (ca. 2000 BCE) 3. Book believed to be written either in days of United Monarchy (Saul-Solomon, ca. 1050-950 BCE), or around the exile or afterward (600-450 BCE) C. Audience 1. Israel 2. We can gain much also D. Purpose 1. To tell the story of Job 2. To explore the various explanations given for human suffering 3. To demonstrate the glory and majesty of God, insignificance of humanity III. Job: The Story A. Main Sections 1. Setting the Scene (Job 1-2) 2. Discussion of Job and his friends (Job 3-37) 3. God's response, conclusion (Job 38-42) B. Job, God, Satan (Job 1-2) 1. Job in Uz; wealthy and very pious; demonstration of piety (Job 1:1-5) 2. Sons of God before God; Satan in midst; God asks Satan if he has considered Job; Satan believes Job serves God because of God's blessings; God allows Satan to cause great loss for Job (Job 1:6-12) 3. The calamitous day: servants in waves come and inform Job of his loss of servants, oxen, sheep, camels, children (Job 1:13-19) 4. Job mourns, does not blame God-- recognizes God has given, God has taken away, God's name as blessed (Job 1:20-21) 5. Sons of God again before God; Satan present; God speaks again of Job; Satan believes he serves God because he has his health; Satan allowed to strike Job but not to kill him (Job 2:1-6) 6. Job afflicted with sores all over his body; wife encourages him to curse God; refuses (Job 2:7-10) 7. Job's friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar come to see him to comfort him; when they see him, do not recognize him; mourning and lamentation; no one speaks for seven days and nights (Job 2:11-13) C. Discussions, Round 1 (Job 3-11) 1. Job's first speech: curses birth, would rather have died at birth, misery of those in suffering (Job 3) 2. Eliphaz's first speech: Job once encouraging, now despondent because of circumstance; the innocent and upright do not suffer; the sinful do; voice, believed of God, came to him, declares man's sinfulness before God; fools and folly; Eliphaz encourages Job to seek God, for God is Almighty and can deliver him (Job 4-5) 3. Job's second speech: Greatness of suffering; wish that God would completely crush him; the "value" of his friends; seeks to learn his sin, declares that he has not sinned; misery of his life; life short, miserable; wants to know why he is unforgiven, wretched (Job 6-7) 4. Bildad's first speech: God consistent and faithful; problems due to sin; if Job, children did not sin, they would not suffer; Job just needs to repent, recognize the wisdom of the ages, remember God (Job 8) 5. Job's third speech: Greatness of God, inability of man to stand before God; Job knows he is in right, but cannot answer God, would be proven perverse; disaster overtakes righteous and wicked; no arbiter between God and Job; seeks to plead to God to understand why he is suffering since he has not sinned; speaks strongly to God, recognizing His great power; wants to know why he was even born (Job 9-10) 6. Zophar's first speech: Job as foolish; if God spoke, true wisdom would come, and Job would see that he deserves worse; inability for man to understand God and His ways; repent of sin to be healed; way of wicked fails (Job 11) D. Discussions, Round 2 (Job 12-21) 1. Job's fourth speech: Recognizes all these things, is wise himself; innocent suffer and the wicked are secure; all creation knows the sovereignty of God; God's great power; Job seeks to speak to God, argue his case; why do friends speak as if they are the voice of God-- will God not expose them?; Job hopes in God, even if he is destroyed; wants to know what he has done to deserve his suffering, wants to know why he has been separated from God; man's life short, death comes to all at appointed time; no hope once dead; endurance of God, decay of creation (Job 12-14) 2. Eliphaz's second speech: Job does not fear God; sinning with mouth; why should Job speak thus since he is no wiser than his friends; the wicked suffer greatly and are paid back for wickedness (Job 15) 3. Job's fifth speech: Miserable comforters; he could speak as they do if he were they and they were he; God has broken and humiliated him; seeks to argue with God; Job's miserable condition in the sight of all; where is his hope since all he seeks is death? (Job 16-17) 4. Bildad's second speech: the wicked suffer greatly and justly (Job 18) 5. Job's sixth speech: Frustrated that "friends" still condemn him; Job torn down, call for justice unheeded; God fights against Job, isolates him; why do friends go after him; God is his Redeemer, will see Him (Job 19) 6. Zophar's second speech: Pleasure of wicked is short; their suffering will be great (Job 20) 7. Job's seventh speech: The wicked, in fact, prosper; death comes to both prosperous and poor; his friends speak falsehood since wicked do prosper (Job 21) E. Discussions, Round 3 (Job 22-28) 1. Eliphaz's third speech: Job's evil abundant, provides generic examples of sinfulness; supposes that Job says that God does not see events on earth; Job like the wicked; Job must reconcile with God, and God will do him well (Job 22) 2. Job's eighth speech: I would argue my case; Job cannot find God; He is Sovereign and will do as He wills; the wicked do not pay for their wickedness, despite what friends are saying (Job 23-24) 3. Bildad's third speech: Man cannot stand before God in all purity (Job 25) 4. Job's ninth speech: Sarcasm toward friends, everything exposed before God, everything trembles before Him; Job maintains his integrity; seeks for his enemies to be as the wicked; terrible things the wicked receive from God; inventiveness of man, his ability to manipulate environment, but wisdom cannot be ascertained in those ways; only God knows the way of wisdom (Job 26-28) F. Job and Elihu (Job 29-37) 1. Job, continued: Desire to be like days of old, when God was with him and he was mighty, pious, and wealthy; today he is derided, mocked, a byword; he himself is miserable, beset by God with all sorts of difficulty; he mourns (Job 29-30) 2. Job, continued: Covenant with eyes; Job wants to know what he has done wrong so as to have better understanding of situation; ends speaking (Job 31) 3. Three men no longer answer since he is righteous in own sight; Elihu present, burns with anger over Job's self-justification, no answer given (Job 32:1-5) 4. Elihu's speech: Being younger, did not speak yet; since none answer, he will answer (Job 32:6-22) 5. Elihu to Job: Listen to me; I have heard your justifications; God is greater than man; He speaks in dreams; man can be miserable and yet renewed; God has all kinds of power; Job has spoken wrongly; God does what is right; respect to whom respect is due; God sees all and can accomplish justice; Job in rebellion against God (Job 33-34) 6. Elihu continues: Wickedness Job's own concern, not God's; why should God answer Job when he speaks this way; God is mighty; God makes known what is right, wrong; wicked will get their due; man must glorify God and His work; what man can understand His ways (Job 35-36) 7. Elihu continues: God's greatness as expressed in the creation, its inner workings; thus God is beyond men, men to fear Him (Job 37) G. The LORD answers (Job 38-41) 1. LORD speaks to Job from whirlwhind; words spoken without knowledge; God to question Job (Job 38:1-3) 2. God asks Job regarding the creation and its inner workings-- was he there, and does he understand it (Job 38:4-39:30) 3. God: can a man find fault with God (Job 40:1-2)? 4. Job: Cannot answer, will not speak (Job 40:3-5) 5. God: Will Job declare Him wrong? Be so great and perform justice for everyone; capture Behemoth and Leviathan, creatures described (Job 40:6-41:34) H. Conclusion (Job 42) 1. Job's confession: God too wonderful and mighty; Job repents (Job 42:1-6) 2. God's anger against Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar for not speaking rightly; to offer sacrifice, Job will pray for them (Job 42:7-9) 3. Job's fortunes restored twofold; everyone reconciled to him; lived in peace, security, and wealth for many years (Job 42:10-17) IV. Job: Important Passages A. Job 1:20-21 1. Terrible misfortune besets Job! 2. How many would blame God, ask why all these things would happen, etc.? 3. Yet Job keeps everything in perspective: he started with nothing, he will have nothing after death-- God as blessed 4. A pious attitude indeed! B. Job 2:9-10 1. Job's wife encourages him to curse God, yet he does not do so 2. Job recognizes if we receive good, we also will receive evil at times 3. Again, good attitude C. Job 31:1-2 1. "Covenant with my eyes" 2. Need for sexual purity, concern over what is seen 3. cf. Matthew 5:27-29 D. Job 38-41 1. Declarations of God's majesty 2. If we ever think that we are great, just consider what God has done in the creation! E. Job 42:1-6 1. Job repents, recognizes that he has spoken rashly 2. Seems to have sinned with the tongue (James 3:1-12) 3. We must not begin whittling on God's end of the stick! V. Conclusion A. The Book of Job 1. Creates as many questions as it answers 2. A profound, difficult book! B. Job partially vindicated 1. No previous sin before his speeches 2. Friends (and Near Eastern reasoning) wrong: suffering not always because of sin 3. Sometimes wicked prosper, righteous suffer C. Yet Job went too far 1. No one entirely righteous 2. No one has the right to question, challenge God 3. We all should repent in dust and ashes! D. Why suffering? 1. No hard and fast answer given 2. Trust in God, for God understands all 3. Some things too great, difficult for us 4. Question of suffering likely one such thing E. Let us stand firm in our faith like Job, no matter what may come! F. Invitation/songbook Ethan R. Longhenry / disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus Spiritual Manna A biweekly devotional for your life. http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/manna From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Mar 17 03:41:16 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:41:16 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) WHAT LACK I YET? Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: WHAT LACK I YET? In the 19th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, we find one of the accounts of the rich young ruler. In verses 16-20 we read: "And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing sahll I do, that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? There is none good but One, tht is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto Him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thous shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto Him, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? I don't know if you have ever stopped to think about it, but taht is a question that most people don't like to ask of even think about. Many people, instead of being interested in knowing where improvements can be made in their lives, resent having any lack called to their attention. But it is good fo all to think about this very question, "What lack I yet?" It is so important for us honestly to seek to understand where we can make impro-vement in our service to God and then to make it. It is so import- ant to have the attitude that Paul demonstrated when he wrote: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reach- ing forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13,14). With Paul there was no room for complacency or satisfaction. There was always more that could be done and al- ways improvement that could be made. In 2 Pet. 1:5-9 Peter wrote, "And beside this, giving all diligen- ce, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance, patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you tht ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." What lack I yet? Well, how am I doing as far as virtue, or moral excellence is concerned? How is my knowledge? At no time in history have Christians been better educated from a secu- lar standpoint than we are right now -- yet how is the level of Bible knowledge for the average Christian today? How am I doing in the realm of self-control? If I have the knowledge of God's Word, do I have the personal discipline to abide by it? How about patience? Patience is steadfastness or perseveran- ce. Will I bravely bear up and contend against trials, temptations and even persecution? What about godliness? Do I truly evid- ence reverence and respect toward God? ---- Greg Litmer in That Ye May Grow Thereby. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090317/1b81735d/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Mar 17 03:41:29 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:41:29 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN PREPARATION (3) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the third installment of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN PREPARATION (3) Preparation Through Teaching: -- "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is He that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight" (Matt. 3:1-3). Here is introduced to us the first prophet sent by God after a silence of four hundred years. He came as the harbinger, or forerunner of Christ. His mission is here defined in a citation form Isaiah, as one of prepar- ation. There was pending a great transition and his objective was that of preparing the people for it that they might be respon- sive to it. His message was preeminently one of repentance; but whenever and wherever repentance is enjoined sin exists, and certainly the Jews for this reason were in need of repentance. But this appeal to repent had affixed to it as the necessity for it, and the motive, the approaching kingdom. In other words, the transcendently superior and glorious character of this kingdom entailed a pronounced reformation of those who were to be ad- mitted into it. The principles that should give character to it were of the most elevated kind, and such as the doctors of the law and the philosophers of this world had never perceived. These principles as enunciated by Jesus on the mount give an insight to the pronounced degree of reformation so courageously preac-hed by the Baptist. His preaching, as well as tht of Jesus and His disciples, in this period of preparation was confined to the Jews. Among the several reasons which may well be recognized in support of the wisdom of this restriction, ther my be noted a few. The law hav- ing been given to the Jews to bring them to Christ, they were the onces to whom he should make know his person and mission. The Jews had largely departed form the law of Moses through an attachment for the traditions of their fathers, while still avow- ing a loyalty and devotion to him. In this respect they largely foreshadowed the condition of the religious communities today, who while professing fealty to Christ, are governed by the tradit- ions of their fathers. Since, however, the law was their tutor to bring them to Christ ti was necessary to teach them anew the law as it pertained to the coming Christ. This, then, was a need- ed work and such as only could be effectively directed toward those to whom the law had been given. The advantanges, Paul tells us, which were to the Jews were many and great -- but chief- ly there had been committed to them the oracles of God. These oracles set forth the purposes of God respecting a Redeemer, and the principles of the New Covenant, which were to be the instrumentalities through which this redemption was accomplis- hed, need to be taught to the people preparatory to their recept- ion of them. No other prophet before John was greater than he, and his work was of the character that merited his being referred to as coming in the spirit and power of Elijah. The Old Testament closes with the promise of his coming -- "Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" (Mal. 4:5,6). There can be no misunderstanding as to whom this refers since Jesus applies this to John (Matt. 17:12,13; Lk. 16:17). Prophetically described and historically recorded, we find that his ministry was to exert a most salutary influence on the society of the Jews in condemning sin, even in high places; to turn fathers and children to each other; and, in so doing, to pull down to the hills and fill in the valleys thereby making ready a people for the coming of the Lord. In such a work he made strai- ght the paths of the Lord. With this imprisonment of John, Jesus began where he had left off, and with His disciples preach- ed the approaching kingdom -- as at hand -- and the need of re- pentance in view thereof. Not only in this preparatory effort was personal reformation in the lives of the Jews severly enjoined, but, also, the character- istics of the kingdom to be established sought to be impressed upon them -- especially the disciples of Jesus. A few statements of Jesus with respect thereto might well be noticed in the con- cluding section of this article. (More will be posted on this sub- ject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090317/a6fcfe13/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Mar 19 05:19:05 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:19:05 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) WORK OF FAITH Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: WORK OF FAITH Paul's first letter the the Thessalonians begins in vss 1-4 with the following words, "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ; Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for your all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God." For our purpose in this brief study I want to focus upon a statement found in vs.3, "your work of faith." Students of the Bible must understand that according to God the faith that saves is an obedient faith. The greatest treat- ise on the glorious theme of salvation by grace through faith is the book of Romans. Consider how that book begins and ends. In Rom. 1:3-5 Paul wrote, "Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, by Whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obediende to the faith among all nations, for His name." Note the phrase, "obedience to the faith." The book closes with the following words found in (16:25-27), "Now to Him that is of power to stab- lish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began. But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the comman- dment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience faith, to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever, Amen." Note again the phrase, "for the obedience of faith." In God's Word, faith and obedience are inseparable if we are talking about a faith that saves. When Paul wrote of the Thessalonians' "work of faith," the word for work denotes "a deed, an act" (Vine's Expository Dictionary). So Paul was writing of their deeds or acts or works. The truth is that an inactive faith will save no one. To prove a person's faith, indeed as a very part of their faith , God requires obedience. To demonstrate this truth, simply consider Heb. 11. sometimes referred to as the Hall of Fame of Faith, and note the language used to describe saving faith. In vs. 4 we find, "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain." In vs. 7 we read, "By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house." In vs. 8, "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed." In vs. 17, "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac." In vs. 29 we are told of the Israelites, that "by faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land." And in vs. 30, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." Surely all can see that a faith that saves is a great deal more than a simple mental assent concerning the facts of the life of Jesus. We cannot invent good works to save ourselves. We are sav- ed by doing God's Works, not because they place God in the position of owing us our salvation, but because they are expressions of our faith. Our job is to do that which God's divine Word has revealed He wants us to do. That is what the Thessalonians were doing. They were living their lives in obed- ience to God's revealed Will. That was their "work of faith." ------------- Greg Litmer in That Ye May Grow Thereby. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090319/10dd4bcd/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Mar 19 05:19:20 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:19:20 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE LORD'S CHURCH IS MAGNIFICENT Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. THE LORD'S CHURCH IS MAGNIFICENT The term church occurs nine times in the book of Ephesians With nine additional references to the church using the term body, and one each using household of God and temple, it is apparent tht this is one of Paul's major themes. The church is obviously significant in God's scheme of things. Nowadays, though, it seems to me that we overlook the church in our teach- ing and preaching. Let's try to remedy tht neglect just a tiny bit in this brief article. Please consider a chapter by chapter approa- ch to Paul's treatment fo the importance and magnificance of the church. Chapter One: -- Christ, The Head Of The Church: -- God the Father raised His only Son from the dead, set Him above every power, and "gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body" (vs. 22). This headship emphasizes the auth- ority of Jesus. Following the resurrection, He came to His discip- les and said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth"(Matt. 28:18). The power of Jesus is also evident from His position as King of His kingdom. We must make the following point with care: the Head and the body (or the King and His kingdom) are incomplete without each other. Headless bodies function only in ghost stories and horror movies. But with this statement, I don't mean to say that Jesus is somehow less than perfect or that He "needs" anything My point is that Jesus has entrusted a major part of His funct- ioning on earth to His body. We sing an old song that says, "Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today." And therein lies the magnificence -- to say nothing of the responsibili- ty -- of the church. Christ, our Head, intends that we, His body, cooperate with Him in the saving of the world. A magnificent task for a magnificent body! Chapter Two: -- The Body Of The Reconciled: -- The book of Genesis reveals (1) that Adam and Eve sinned soon after creat- ion and separated themselves from God, (2) that all mankind followed after them, and (3) that God intended to redeem the world through Abraham and his descendants. The Lord separa- ted this family form the rest of the world, chiefly by giving them a special law, the Law of Moses. Thus, when Christ came into the world to carry out God's plan of salvation, mankind was sep- arated into two great parts: Jews and Gentiles. Furthermore, every person in both groups was separated from God by sin. How, then, were these great rifts to be bridged, how were Jews and Gentiles to be united and how were sinners to be reconciled to God? Jesus accomplished both in one sacrificial act: He died on the cross. And by this death He abolished the law which separa- ted the Jews from the Gentiles (2:15), and reconciled "them both to God in one body" (vs. 16). How magnificent is this redeemed body, the church! Chapter Three: -- The Purpose Of The Church: -- The church is to make known "the manifold wisdom of God...to the principali- ties and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose" of God (vss. 10,11). This reveals that the church, eter- nal in the mind of God, is to demonstrate the many-sided -- that is, the complete -- wisdom of God. To make known the manifold wisdom of God does not refer to the evangelistic responsibility fo the church. Yes, we are to preach the gospel in all the world, but this text is discussing something else. It refers to the ideal essence -- the nature, character, attribut- es, purposes -- of the church as a creation of God. Just as the works of an architect, a composer, a poet disclose the creators, so the work of God receives "glory in the church by Christ Jesus" (vs. 21). How magnificent! Chapter Four: -- The Unity Of The Church: -- God united Jew and Gentile in one body, "thus making peace" (2:15). Here in chapter four, Paul calls it the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (vs. 3). The saved do not create the unity; it is their task to keep or maintain it. They will do this in two ways: The first is on the basis of their spirit or attitude. Christians will be lowly, gentle, and patient; or in one word, humble. In application, this means they will bear "with one another" (vs. 2). They will stifle ambition and conceit, and in "lowliness of mind... esteem others better than themselves." Self-interest will give way to "the interest of others" (Phil. 2:3,4). The second is on the basis of seven "ones," seven divine strands -- truths, if you will -- which are woven together in the one gospel of Jesus Christ. "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:4-6). Though we humans may never achieve this unity on earth, God's ideal and our pursuit of it is a magnificent thing. Chapter Five: -- The Bride Of Christ: -- The view that sees human marriage as the chief interest of vss. 22,23 misses the point. Paul says that he speaks "concerning Christ and the church" (vs. 32). Christ is the "Savior of the body," the church (vs. 25). He sacrificed Himself for her so that in the present "He might sanctify and cleanse her" and that His return He might "present her to Himself as a glorious church," a bride "holy and without blemish" (vss. 26,27). This divine truth about the relationship of Christ and the church finds application in the realm of human marriage, but this is secondary to the text. Chiefly, Paul stresses that the beauty and magnificance of the church is due to what Christ has done. Chapter Six: -- The Church At War: -- This chapter has no direct mention of the church -- at least, none that I can perceive. How- ever, the language of it is kingdom language; the subjects of King Jesus must be armed and outfitted to wage and win the battle against the devil (vs. 10). The magnitude of this struggle is apparent from two things: First, it is the Lord's war. We Christians are to don the "whole armor of God" and fight for King Jesus. Our anthem is "Onward, Christian Soldiers." Nowadays, we don't seem com- fortable with this violent kind of imagery. But make no mistake about it; we are in a war for our very souls. And God does not stint on provisions for the fight; we bear His "whole" armor; we wield the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (vss. 10,17). Second, the magnitude of this war is made clear by the nature of our enemy. We do not fight against "flesh and blood" but against Satan himself, "against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places"(vss. 11,12). John's Revelation makes clear tht we fight not against mere mortals, but against "the great dragon...that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who decieves the whole world" (Rev. 12:9). The magnificence of the church lies in the magnitude of the One for whom she fights and the one against whom she fights. In conclusion, perhaps I need to point out that I haven't dis- tinguished between the universal church and the local church in this essay, because both concepts are clearly inherent in God's eternal purpose. It also might be helpful to put a face on three common errors regarding the church: To so institutionalize it that it becomes an entity somehow existing apart form the individuals who compose it. To so individualize it that the collective or "together" aspect of it is lost. To slight it in a misguided effort to exalt Christ; to exalt Him truly we must not minimize His body and His bride. May God help us to love "the church our blessed Redeemer saved with His own precious blood." ---- Jim Ward in the Lost River Bulletin, Vol. 59, No. 2, Feb. 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090319/71096dae/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Mar 20 02:36:30 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:36:30 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) SEASONED WITH SALT Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. SEASONED WITH SALT The people with whom we come in contact will not know God loves them if they do not see His love in us. Yes, they should know about the great sacrifice Jesus offered. Yes, they ought to be able to recognize what that means about His love. However, in general, they don't. Legions of people, including many Christians, are convinced the story of Jesus can't be for them. They know the story. Part of them believes it. However, they have struggled with sin so long they are convinced God's love isn't for them. Some of them keep plugging away trying to keep up appearances. Others quit trying. Both suffer from the same problem. They feel they cannot reach out to their brethren for help. Sadly, many of us will say, "It's their own fault. it's just their perception. We're here for them if they will just come tell us." Perhaps in some ways it is a matter of perception. How- ever, that is usually a person's perception because...they have perceived something that led them there. Paul said, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasond with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person" (Col. 4:6). We use this verse to talk about conducting a Bible study. Yet, there is more to it than making sure we speak properly when in an actual spiritual discussion. It says our speech must always be gracious. Not sometimes -- always! Through our gracious speech, others will see the love of God. Far too often, others do not feel they can share their struggl- es because we have told them they can't. We don't remember doing it, but we did. Consider one example. That Sleazy Governor!: -- How many of us have berated New York's ex-governor Eliot Spitzer? As we talk to our brethren we call this man names, talk about how awful he is and how we just can't believe anyone would do anything like that. Worse yet, we belittle his wife for standing by him, questioning how anyone could forgive a man who has behaved like he did. Little do we know, however, that we may be talking to a brot- her who has been struggling with sexual sin. He doesn't want to keep sinning, but he has come under sins's control (Rom. 6: 16; 7:14; 2 Tim. 2:26). He wants to reach out to us for the help necessary to overcome, but he has just been told, "You must never admit your sin to me. I won't forgive you. I won't love you. I won't stand by you. No one should stand by you." I know we would stand by our brother if he confessed his sin. I know we would love him anyway. And I know if we knew he had committed his sin, we would monitor our comments bet- ter. The problem is everyone we talk to has committed one sin or another. The way we talk about those sins and the people who commit them lets our friends and brethren know what we will think of them if they come clean like they need to in order to survive spiritually. Are we showing the worldly and our breth- ren the love of God had for them in even in their sins? He loved them so much, He sent His Son to die for them while they were yet in their sins (Rom. 5:6-8). When they confess sin and apolo- gize, He will stand by them. Sadly, however, because we have told them we won't stand by them, they don't believe God will either. They spend another day locked in their sin, isolated from the very people God has given to help, shriveling and dying on the inside because our speech was not packed and preserved with the salt of graciousness. Don't Misunderstand: -- Please don't misunderstand -- sin is sin. Sin is a choice. If someone is committing sin, they will not be justified before God just because we weren't nice to them about it. Impenitent sinners need to be rebuked. Sin will have conse- quences even when they repent. However, we will be judged for our unseasoned speech (Matt. 12:36,37). It is better for us to have a millstone hung about our neck and cast into the deep than for our words to cause someone to stumble (Matt. 18:6). The next time we are about to mock the drunk, berate the per- vert, belittle the homosexual, castigate the drug addict or speak ill of sinners, let us pretend the person to whom we are speaking struggles with that sin, wants our help, but is afraid to tell us. The person may be screaming ut on the inside for the strength to let someone know what he or she is dealing with and they need to hear something from us tht says God loves them and we love them. Even if the person is a Christian, a Bible class teacher, a preacher, a deacon or an elder, let our speech always be gracio- us. Let them see God's love in us. We never know how badly they actually need to see that from us right now. --- Edwin Crozier in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 6, June, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090320/625491c3/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Mar 20 02:36:21 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:36:21 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) QUESTION AND ANSWER Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is a quest- ion and answer from my files: QUESTION AND ANSWER Question: -- Should Christians Sing During The Lord's Supper? Answer: -- I wonder what is next -- singing during prayer or sing- ing during the sermon!? I really don't understand why people think that the Lord's Supper needs some kind of "crutch" or "support" to make it meaningful and relevant to Christians. When the Lord gave the bread and the cup, He said, "This is My body...This is My blood" (Matt. 26:26-28), and He add- ed: "This do in memory of Me" (1 Cor. 11:24,25). Does what the Lord said fail to do what He designed the Lord's Supper to do? The assembly of the church "on the first day of the week to break bread" (Acts 20:7) is to focus our attention on the Lord Jesus and His sacrifice for us. It seems to me, that, if we "dilute" the purpose of the Lord's Supper by focusing on singing, it de- tracts from what should be our focus. The Lord's Supper is one of the last remaining parts of indiv- idual expression in worship. The prayers are led. The songs are selected and led by someone else for the church. The sermon thoughts are directed by the preacher. And I have no complaint with all that. It is as it should be, for that is what corpo- rate worship is all about. But in the Supper of the Lord, each one of us can "discern the Lord's body" (1 Cor. 11:29). In partak- ing of the Lord's Supper, I may dwell on the scene of the cross, or the ministering that Jesus did with the poor and helpless or the example of a godly Christian who epitomizes the life of Jesus in His life. The person choosing a song to use during the Supper can hardly know the mind of each one in the audience, and the song chosen may actually lead one's mind away from the meditation in which one is engaged. And it is strange that in many cases, those who cry for more individual expression in worship are the very ones who try to stifle that in the one part of the worship where it is possible to have it. For me, the symbol of the bread and fruit of the vine are enough to call to mind the body and the blood of Christ. Personally, I prefer to leave it at that and not distract from it with singing. --------- Clem Thurman in Gospel Min- utes, Vol. 58, No. 12, Mar. 20, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090320/02a794e4/attachment.html From mail at mikealrhughes.com Fri Mar 20 09:58:30 2009 From: mail at mikealrhughes.com (Mike Hughes) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:58:30 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Help locating a congregation References: <21CB852E-7A6E-4BDA-8988-8EDDBCA99BDB@mikealrhughes.com> Message-ID: <9D3DBDC3-7880-4DE6-AAAF-B2019E085D17@mikealrhughes.com> > From: Mike Hughes > Date: March 20, 2009 9:56:42 AM CDT > To: Biblemat at biblemat.net > Subject: Help locating a congregation > > We have a young lady here that has moved to Alum Creek, WV. Trying > to help her find a place to worship. I looked up in "The lamb's book > of life" church directory and found a congregation listed in > Charleston, WV. I have her the information and she was told the > church was in a bad area that a lot of people were being killed in > the area. So does anyone know of a congregation close to her area? > > > Mike Hughes - Minister ? > Wilmington church of Christ > > -- > > P.O. Box 278 > 303 N. 1st Street > Wilmington, IL 60481 > Web: www.mikealrhughes.com E-mail: mail at mikealrhughes.com > Mobile: (815) 545-6497 AIM/iChat ID: im2macmike > Wilmington, IL > Podcasts - The Bible Says Wilmington Sermons > Owner Bible Matters List Mikeal R. Hughes's Facebook profile > New Forum address: http://www.network54.com/Forum/602460 > Join Bible Matters Group for forum at - http://www.network54.com/Group/158452 > > Blog: http://biblestruths.blogspot.com/ > > (OS X is like a jungle no Gates, no Windows, and a Leopard inside.) > > Power corrupts. > PowerPoint corrupts absolutely. > > The contents of this email are personal and private. Please do not > forward this communication, in whole or in part, to anyone without > my express consent. > From donmcclain at sbcglobal.net Fri Mar 20 16:33:49 2009 From: donmcclain at sbcglobal.net (Don Mcclain) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:33:49 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] We are changing radio stations March 23rd Message-ID: <1A9A2A7A78544C1DA09849576C3C29F5@Desktop1> We are changing radio stations March 23rd Searching For The Truth A Live Call In Program! Each Weekday afternoon starting March 23rd . . . >From 4:00-4:40 CST KKSP: 93.3 FM Little Rock AR To be on the air call - 1-501-823-0933 or 1-877-841-8488 between 4:00 & 4:40 PM CST. We are LIVE on the internet Each Weekday Afternoon 4:00-4:40 PM CST Listen Live On The Web!!! - http://www.spirit933.com This program is brought to you by the West Sixty Fifth St. church of Christ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Schedule of services Sunday morning; Bible class; 9:00 A.M. ; Worship; 10:00 A.M. Sunday Evening; Worship 5:00 P.M Wednesday - Bible class: 7:00 P.M. For more info: Call - 501-568-1062 Email - donmcclain at sbcglobal.net Website: http://w65stchurchofchrist.org/Radio_Page.htm Address: 7115 West 65th St P.O. Box 190062 Little Rock AR 72219-0062 "War is an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse." -John Stuart Mill Don McClain Evangelist 65th Street church of Christ 7115 West 65th Street Little Rock AR 72219 donmcclain at sbcglobal.net http://w65stchurchofchrist.org/Home_page.htm tel: tel2: mobile: 501-568-1062 Questions for radio program: 1-501-823-0933 501-749-6928 Want to always have my latest info? Want a signature like this? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090320/ad2c23cd/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2108 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090320/ad2c23cd/attachment-0001.jpe From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Mar 21 02:32:19 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:32:19 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Saturday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: GOD HAS SPOKEN "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). Purity of life has its seat in the purity of heart. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good thin- gs, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil thin- gs" (Matt. 12:35). One of the great battle fronts of life is the con- stant attack against purity of heart that comes daily through tele- vision, the internet, rap and other music lyrics, and even the mag- azines displayed at checkout counters at the local grocery stor- es. Ads on television become more and more lurid as "stand- ards" become more and more non-existent. "From such turn away" is godly instruction in (2 Tim. 3:1-5). "Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way" (Psa. 119:37). Young and old are alike polluted by the lust of the eyes. It takes courage and determinat- ion to avery one's eyes and to change channels or hit the "Off" button, to flee from these things (1 Cor. 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:22). But God calls upon those who would be His own people to "come out from among them and be separate... Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you" (2 Cor. 6:14-18). "Keep yourself pure" (1 Tim. 5:22) is a pithy directive tht should be indelibly im- printed in the consciousness of all who seek God. Let us comm- it ourselves unto God's way of righteousness and exercise well the shield of faith by which we can quench all the fiery darts of the evil one, including his attacks against our purity of heart (Eph. 6:16). Phil. 4:8 is good medicine. ----- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090321/48fb66c7/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Mar 21 02:32:27 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:32:27 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) SHALL WE SURRENDER THIS PLEA? (1) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the first installment of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. SHALL WE SURRENDER THIS PLEA? (1) The "Restoration Movement" in America swept the country like wild fire in the days when our communication was very limit- ed. It caught the attention and captured the interest of the relig- ious world. All recognized that this plea was different. In the midst of confusion and warring factions, the plea was that every departure from Scripture was wrong and that peace and harm-ony could be had only by sacrificing creeds and dogmas, and by returning to the sacred ground of inspired truth. This plea won instant acceptance with some, but open oppo- sition form many more. But thinking people were arrested by the challenge: "We speak where the Bible speaks, we are silent where the Bible is silent." The cause grew, but with the growth came bitter opposition and persecution. But the ground was not surrendered, and the victory was assured. What Was This Plea?: -- Many a rustic preacher had to climb on the polemic stand to do forensic battle with higher echelons of theological scholarship. Yet the truth prevailed, because it was Truth. And the whole world came to recognize a difference and respect a lone of demarcation between the church of Christ and the denominational world. Although it faced sneers and ridicule the church grew daily in strength and respect, as each member went his way declaring, "We call Bible things by Bible names. We do Bible things in Bible ways." With the contention that if a thing is Scriptural, then there must be a Scriptural term to describe it, they deplored the lang- uage of Ashdod, and they quoted, "For who among men know- eth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, safe the Spirit of God. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were free- ly given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words" (1 Cor. 2:11-13). The religious world didn't much like the sound of that challenge - but they respected it. Who And What Were These People?: -- Had those stalwarts of the restoration movement surrendered a single principle, they would have invited disaster to their cause. And compromise would have meant certain defeat and a forfeit of their right to ex- ist. Knowing this, they were adamant in their demands: "Let us return to the inspired ground, rally around the cross of Christ, and accept His authority alone." They were branded as "modern Ishmaelites, whose hand is against every man," but their plea be- came a rallying point for all who realized the tragedy of sectarian strife. The wrath of religious bigots only intensified the zeal of these discerning people. The whole world recognized the success of those who laun- ched this movement. But have we analyzed the factor which made for success? It must be agreed by all that it was the distin- ctive plea and their adherence to its principles that won battles. They triumphed over opposition because they clung to the Scriptures and would not be driven nor enticed from them. And as a result of their fearless proclamation of Truth, we have recei- ved as our heritage a church which has come to numerical stren- gth, power, prestige and popular acceptance. Now, shall we surrender the ground our forefathers hallowed?! Rumblings In The Church Today: -- There are awesome rumblin- gs deep within the church today, and dark forebodings hover on the horizons. The ominous pall comes not from things or perso- ns without, but from the conditions which are arising from with- in the body and promoted by our own members. None can care- fully weigh trends and developments within the church today and yet contend the real force of the restoration movement is not being blunted by a newly acquired "means of approach" and "up to date" methods of doing things. The stalwart defense of the faith is being supplanted by "dip- lomacy and tact." Bitter opposition has been overcome for the most part, but we have failed to realize why we are not encount- ering the bitter opposition. We have won evasive battles by "sparing feelings," but at the same time we have lost golden opportunities to save souls from t he sins of denominationalism. (More will be posted on this subject Monday, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090321/7867c2f7/attachment.html From wswalker310 at juno.com Fri Mar 20 18:51:55 2009 From: wswalker310 at juno.com (Wayne S Walker) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:51:55 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] hymn study, "Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me" Message-ID: <20090321.091638.1440.1.wswalker310@juno.com> Wayne Walker here with another weekly hymn study. "GRACIOUS SPIRIT, DWELL WITH ME" "He...shall also give life to your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Rom. 8:11) INTRO.: A hymn which makes a request that God's Spirit would dwell in us is "Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me" (#116 in Hymns for Worship Revised). The text was written by Thomas Toke Lynch (1818-1871). In 1855, while serving as a Congregationalist minister with the Mornington church in the London, England, area, he published a hymn collection entitled The Rivulet: Hymns for Heart and Voice, designed as a supplement to the Hymns of Isaac Watts. It included this song, perhaps his best known. Other hymns by Lynch which have appeared in some of our books are "Christ in His Word Draws Near" and "My Faith, It Is an Oaken Staff." Several tunes have been found with this hymn. Some books have had one (Dix) by Conrad Kocher which is most often associated with Folliot S. Pierpont's hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth." The vast majority of books have used another one (Redhead or Ajalon) by Richard Redhead to which John Montgomery's "Go to Dark Gethsemane" has also been set. Also one (Ratisbon) by Johann Werner has been suggested. Still another one (Reynoldstone) that is available was composed by Timothy Richard Matthews, who was born on Nov. 4, 1826, at Colmworth, near Bedford, England, the son of a minister. After attending Bedford Grammar School and Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge, from which he received the Mus. B. degree in 1853, he became a private tutor to the family of Lord Wriothesley Russell of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where he studied under the organist and hymn tune composer George Job Elvey who became a lifelong friend. Becoming a minister himself, Matthews served at St. Mary's Church in Nottingham from 1853 to 1869, during which time he founded Nottingham's Working Men's Institute. In 1869, he moved to North Coates in Lincolnshire, then retired in 1907 to live with his son at Tetney. The editor of the North Coates Supplemental Tune Book and The Village Organist, Matthews provided music for morning and evening services, chants, and responses, earning the reputation for simple but effective hymn tunes and producing over 100. William Howard asked for six melodies from him to be used in a children's hymnal, and Matthews finished them all in one day. Also Matthews is credited with a few carols and songs, and his best known tune generally is used with Emily Elliot's nativity hymn "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne." His sons Norton and Arthur were also known as hymn tune composers. Matthews died at his son's home in Tetney in Lincolnshire, England, on Jan. 5, 1910. Among some of our books, it has been a custom not to include any songs addressed directly to the Holy Spirit. The reason for this may well be the general objection to addressing the Holy Spirit in prayer. However, singing and praying are two separate acts (1 Cor. 14:15). Therefore, it could be argued that one can scripturally address a song to the Holy Spirit, calling upon Him to do that which the scriptures teach that He will do, and it not be the same as praying to Him. However, for those who still feel uncomfortable singing a song to the Holy Spirit, in the opening line of each stanza, the word "Spirit" could be changed to "Savior." In fact, Great Songs Revised lists "Gracious Savior, Dwell with Me" in their index, but when that number is referenced, the song there is titled "Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me." Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord's church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, "Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me" appeared with the Kocher tune in the 1963 Christian Hymnal edited by J. Nelson Slater. Today, it is found, with the Redhead tune, in the 1986 Great Songs Revised edited by Forrest M. McCann; the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand; and the 1994 Songs of Faith and Praise edited by Alton H. Howard; in addition to Hymns for Worship. This song characterizes the Holy Spirit in several ways which are applicable to us. I. Stanza 1 calls Him a gracious Spirit "Gracious Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would gracious be; And with words that help and heal Would Thy life in mine reveal, And with actions bold and meek Would for Christ my Savior speak." A. The Spirit is called "the Spirit of Grace" because He revealed unto us in the scripture the grace of God: Zech. 12:10 B. We also should be gracious in using words that would minister God's grace to others: Acts 20:32 C. In addition, we must be gracious in actions both bold and meek to help and heal: Gal. 6:1-2 II. Stanza 2 calls Him a truthful Spirit "Truthful Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would truthful be; And with wisdom kind and clear, Let Thy life in mine appear, And with actions brotherly Speak my Lord's sincerity." A. The Spirit is called "the Spirit of truth" because He revealed to the apostles, and to us through their word, the truth of God: Jn. 16:13 B. We should also strive to live a life that is based upon the truth: 1 Pet. 1:22 C. And we should also be zealous in speaking the truth in love to others, both by word and deed: Eph. 4:15 III. Stanza 3 calls Him a mighty Spirit "Mighty Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would mighty be; Mighty so as to prevail Where unaided man must fail, Ever by a mighty hope Pressing on and bearing up." A. The Spirit is called "the Spirit of counsel and might" because He revealed unto us in scripture the might or power of God: Isa. 11:2 B. Therefore, we should look to His word that we might be strengthened with His might: Eph. 3:16 C. The reason that we need this might is to help us press on to the goal: Phil. 3:14 IV. Stanza 4 calls Him a tender Spirit "Tender Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would tender be; Shut my heart up like a flower In temptation's darksome hour. Open it when shines the sun, And His love by fragrance own." A. The Spirit may be thought of as a "tender Spirit" because He cares for us and is grieved when we sin: Eph. 4:30 B. We should also be tenderhearted toward God and look to the Spirit to shut up our hearts to temptation because it leads to sin: Jas. 1:13-15 C. Instead, we should let Him open our hearts and make them tender towards the love of God and being His temple: 1 Cor. 6:19 V. Stanza 5 calls Him a holy Spirit "Holy Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would holy be; Separate from sin, I would Choose and cherish all thigns good, And whatever I can be, Give to Him who gave me Thee!" A. The Spirit is called the "Holy Spirit" because He is the Spirit of God: Eph. 1:13 B. We should seek to follow His will that we might be holy as the children of God: 1 Pet. 1:14-16 C. In this way, we give back to Him who gave us the Spirit by guarding that which is committed to us: 2 Tim. 1:14 CONCL.: Requesting that the Spirit dwell with me does not necessitate some kind of miraculous, or even direct, indwelling on His part. It can simply be a desire that the Spirit would abide in my heart through the influence of the scriptures that He inspired and gave to all mankind. And thus this Third Person of the Trinity can produce a spirit or attitude of godliness in my life, as I ask Him, "Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me." Brotherly, Wayne S. Walker 9024 Amona Dr. Affton, MO 63123 home phone: (314) 638-4710 e-mail: wswalker310 at juno.com website: www.defenderoftruth.com Notes: Other hymn studies are available at the Defender of Truth website. Also, some of my previous hymn studies are now included in book that I have written entitled Songs of Zion. It can be ordered from the publisher by calling 1-800-423-2484 or going to www.faith-facts.com . And I have a Hymn Studies blog at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hymnstudies/ . In addition, since this has been called to my attention, I now feel it necessary to include this disclaimer with each message. As owner of this list, I have nothing to do with the ads and links that Yahoogroups sends out with the Hymn of the Day posts nor do I have any control over them. I do not necessarily approve of them and I do not always endorse those who have placed them with Yahoogroups. ____________________________________________________________ Digital Photography - Click Now. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmP5gD9j9fQcNCY71vyjEd9JHPir6TrrIqC0DKOgNEGxoxf1Y9y/ From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Sat Mar 21 22:38:57 2009 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:38:57 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] Good News for Norwalk: Volume IV, Number 12: March 22, 2009 Message-ID: Good News for Norwalk For I am not ashamed of the good news, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16) A publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio Volume IV, Number 12: March 22, 2009 -------------------------------------------------------- The Final Examination You walk into the room. You are a bit confused and apprehensive-- what is going to happen? You stand before the teacher, and he gives you the final examination. Are you ready? Have you prepared yourself? How will you fare? All of us who have gone through school remember final exams. They were never pleasant, and they often represented a significant part of our grade. The final exam was the last shot at redemption, the conclusion of a successful class, or the final failure. It all depended on our understanding of the class material, the teacher, and the nature of the exam itself. The Scriptures make it clear that we will all experience the ultimate final examination when the Lord returns: the day of judgment. The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31). Since the day of judgment is coming for you and me, it is good for us to understand all we can about the judgment day and the basis of the judgment! We do not know when the day of judgment will come. Jesus' return is described as being like "a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10). Contrary to the view of many, Jesus' return will not be heralded by a "rapture," then a "great tribulation," and then a "millennium." Instead, the Scriptures teach that Jesus could come at any moment, and when He does return, He will then immediately judge all mankind (Matthew 24:42-25:46). Either we will be ready for His return or we will not be ready. There is no other alternative! God does not leave us in doubt regarding the basis of the judgment; in fact, you could call it an "open book" exam. We will be judged on the basis of our works, whether we have obeyed Jesus and served Him and His righteousness, or if we have not obeyed Jesus and served evil (Romans 2:5-11, Revelation 20:12-13). Those works will be judged by the standard of God's Word, just as Jesus promised (John 12:48). A day of judgment is coming, therefore, and on that day, each and every one of us will stand before God, give an account, and be judged on the basis of our obedience to God (Romans 14:12). What shall we do then? Some people live in continual fear, knowing that the Lord is coming, but not knowing exactly when. Yet God would not have us live in fear-- instead, we ought to live in preparation (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10). If we believe that the Bible is true, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and will return one day to judge the living and the dead, then we must live according to that conviction. We must constantly be busy in His Kingdom doing His will (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:16-19)! If we are faithful servants, it will not matter if the Lord returns today, tomorrow, or after our deaths. Let us be prepared for that final examination, and inherit eternal life! Ethan R. Longhenry evangelist at norwalkchurch.org -------------------------------------------------------- More About Jesus April 3-5, 2009 Come join us as we learn from the Scriptures of Jesus Christ. Friday, April 3, 2009, 7:30pm: Prophecies of the Christ and Jesus' Birth with Paul Buchanan of Medina, OH Saturday, April 4, 2009, 7:30pm: Jesus' Life with Bobby Blackburn of North Ridgeville, OH Sunday, April 5, 2009, 10:30am and 6:00pm: Jesus' Death and Jesus' Resurrection and Lordship with John Hains of Dayton, OH -------------------------------------------------------- The church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio Thank you for reading the electronic version of our bulletin, Good News for Norwalk. If you live in Norwalk or happen to be traveling in the Norwalk area, we would certainly love to have you visit one of our assemblies! Our location: 386 North Edgewood Drive (just off US 250 just north of Norwalk's city limits) Norwalk, Ohio 44857 Our assemblies: Sunday morning assembly: 10:30am Sunday evening assembly: 6:00pm Our Bible studies: Sunday morning Bible study: 9:30am Wednesday evening Bible study: 7:00pm -------------------------------------------------------- For More Information If you have any questions or comments about anything you have read here, or desire more information, please contact our evangelist, Ethan Longhenry, at evangelist at norwalkchurch.org. Good News for Norwalk is a publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio, for the promotion of God's truth in our world. For more information about the church of Christ in Norwalk, please visit our website at norwalkchurch.org. Thank you for your interest, and have a nice day! Ethan R. Longhenry / disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus Spiritual Manna A biweekly devotional for your life. http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/manna From richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com Sun Mar 22 19:08:42 2009 From: richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:08:42 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (3/22/09) Message-ID: <20090323001137.0642723000B@dumbledore.whizardries.com> Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) March 22, 2009 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "Are We Following the Lord?" (Richard Thetford) "What Has Happened?" (Steve Niemeier) "The Thief on the Cross" (Ron Boatwright) "SENTENCE SERMONS --- ARE WE FOLLOWING THE LORD? Richard Thetford There are some individuals that claim to be "followers of the Lord" yet they do not heed everything that this encompasses. To follow after the Lord takes total dedication on our part, putting Him first in all things! The disciples were ready to follow Him, they dropped what they were doing, in order to follow Christ. "So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him" (Luke 5:11). It takes a sincere commitment on each of our parts to ensure that we are following Him daily. Jesus should ALWAYS be first in our life. The scriptures teach: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23), and "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). The true disciple of Christ understands why they should follow Jesus. The Christian knows Jesus. John 10:4 says: "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice." To be worthy of Christ, we must understand that He is first and foremost in our lives and as a result, we prove this by the way we live each and every day. As Jesus called His disciples, He is calling us today. He wants us to listen to His invitation to be faithful stewards in His kingdom. He wants us to be soul-winners as were the early disciples and apostles. Are we ready, willing, and able to do the work that we have been challenged to do? Jesus knows if we are only honoring Him with our lips (Matthew 15:8). Let's make sure that our heart is tuned in to do the work in which Jesus has asked us to do. Are we really following the ways of Jesus? --- WHAT HAS HAPPENED? Steve Niemeier This question has been asked many times pertaining to many different issues. This question needs to be asked pertaining to the Lord's church and more importantly needs to be answered. What has happened to our worship services? When did we decide the Lord was not worthy of our best clothes, our best singing, our best attitudes, our best purpose of our hearts, etc? What has happened to our Bible studies? When did we decide that an in depth study of God's word should not be done in our public Bible studies? Many of the new materials written are written to touch the surface of the scriptures as we travel through the Bible in a year or three. What has happened to our hospitality? When did we decide that the house was the most important thing and not the association? When did we determine that going out to eat would suffice instead of opening our homes to others? We know that hospitality means more than opening our homes and certainly going out to eat is fine but it can never replace the honor of being invited to one's home. What has happened to our work ethics of planting and watering the seed of the gospel? When did we decide passing out handbills or tracts was useless? When did we decide that spending money to let people know where we are located and what we teach were not funds well spent? What has happened to our gospel meetings? When did we decide that reducing the days or the amount of sermons was the best thing to do? When did it become apparent to us that Satan didn't like for us to be in services for three weeks or two weeks or even a week at a time? As a result we decided to accommodate him and reduce the time spent to a weekend or maybe three days at the most. What has happened to the Lord's people? Is it the influence of the world that John tells us not to love in I John 2:15-17? I believe it is! --- THE THIEF ON THE CROSS Ron Boatwright The sad thing is that there are many people today who try to use "the thief on the cross" as their justification for not obeying the clear and plain command of Jesus to be baptized. On the Day of Judgment it will not be the case of "what about the thief on the cross". The thief on the cross was before the death of Christ and before the New Testament took effect. Hebrews 9:17 says, "For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives." We cannot be saved like the thief because Christ's New Testament is in effect for us today. Anyone refusing to obey Jesus on His terms has no legitimate claim on the salvation that Jesus offers. One will certainly be held accountable for his disobedience by the eternal loss of his soul. He will only have himself to blame. People need to stop spending their time in trying to figure out a way to get around doing what the Lord said, but rather they need be willing to submit to the final authority of our Lord. When we stand before the Lord on the day of judgment to be judged by Him, there are going to be many who have chosen not to do what the Lord has said. Romans 10:3 tells us that people are "Seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." Jesus said in Mark 16:16, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved." How are people going to explain to Jesus on the Day of Judgment why they did not do what He says and for the reason He says? The New Testament of Christ requires us to be baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16) so that we can be saved (Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21). It did not take effect until after the death of Christ. The thief did not come under the New Testament as we do today. It will be too late on Judgment Day to find out that one hasn't obeyed the Lord and is still lost. --- SENTENCE SERMONS It is far better to live for Christ than to later wish you had. Men, like kites, should rise against the wind. You may give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. Most children are afraid of darkness and most men are afraid of the light. It takes a great deal of courage to say, No, when most others are saying, Yes. Do what you can, where you can, when you can, with what you have. The way to hell is paved with good intentions. A big heart accommodates many more people than a big house. --- SERMON LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD (with PowerPoint charts AND Audio) www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org MEETING TIMES Sunday Bible Study..........10:00 A.M. Worship........11:00 A.M. Wednesday Bible Study........6:30 P.M. Evangelist/Editor Richard Thetford Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090322/1cb57ced/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 14927 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090322/1cb57ced/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 177 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090322/1cb57ced/attachment-0004.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 9662 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090322/1cb57ced/attachment-0005.gif From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Mar 23 03:13:30 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:13:30 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) WILL WE SURRENDER THIS PLEA? (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second and final installment of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. The Power Of The Truth Of Christ: -- Every achievement to which the church can point today was staked out and made possible by the courageous work of pioneer preachers who were unflinching in their denunciation of every false way. Their speech may have been rustic, but it was effective in defense of the truth. And nothing is more despicable then for some young college "assembly line" preacher tomake derogatory remarks about their "methods and approach." They didn't present the veneer of culture, but they were the solid oak of truth. When they strode out of the corn field or cotton patch on Saturday afternoon, they really had a quality to "grace God's pulpit" the next morning. It was their thoughts (1 Cor. 2:1,2). They didn't try to polish up on fancy phrases nor cultural approach. They knew the tragedy of sin and horrors of eternal hell, and they were campaigning for the souls of men. Their sermon may not have been scholarly, but it was Script- ural. They didn't get big pay checks, but they got results. They couldn't eloquently gesture to a beautiful baptistry, but they led myriads of condidates into rivers, ponds, creeks and horse- troughs, and there they buried them in baptism for the remission of their sins. They didn't expend all of their energies harping on congregational autonomy and local financial responsibility. But they instructed the young converts: "Now, you have a story to tell. Get out there and tell it to all that you can. So the Word grew! When the campaign moved out of the old brush arbor into small meeting houses, then into large, nicely furnished buildings we somehow lost sight of the worth of the individual soul and began to spotlight "big programs," "city-wide campaigns" and attendant promotional activities. As a result, the individual Christian became engulfed in the whirlpool of "church programs and failed to talk to that neighbor about obeying the gospel of Christ for salvation from sin. More and more we came to lean on professional preachers, and less and less on qualified Christ- ians doing evangelizing "everywhere, preaching the Word" (Acts 8:4). "Moving On Up": -- The preachers' speech took on a polish un- known int the "pioneer days." They studied the means of appro- ach and psychology to better present the message of salvation. But, in some devious way, tact and diplomacy shaded into com- promise and conformity. The socialized gospel from religious neighbors began to infiltrate the ranks. Too, the preacher came to feel at home on the "ecclesiastical pedestal" which was fash-'\ ioned for him by well-meaning, but ignorant followers. He soon became the "business manager" for a church, as well as a spirit- ual instructor. It was not uncommon for him to be involved with building programs, finance committees for schools, orphan homes and other such affairs in "the brotherhood." As an impotent people, the restoration movement had no church buildings, no orphan homes, no "Christian schools, no homes for the aged. And youth encampments, youth rallies and quite a few other activities of our day were unknown. Today, we have buildings costing a million dollars or more. We have long lists of colleges, schools, orphanages, old folks' homes, lecture-ships, encampment, retreats, etc. We have educated and polish- ed preachers, educational directors, youth counselors, marriage counselors and professional song directors. We Have Finally Arrived: - - Yes, we have arrived -- but where are we!? Are you ready to carefully weigh these matters? The whole world knows WHO we are, but do they still fully under- stand WHAT we are? We advertize where we meet, but have we also informed them as to just where we stand? And why? In all of our great programs of evangelizing, are we having the impact that was felt in our earlier days? With out great "educational programs" are converts going forth to sow the seed as in the days of the pioneers? Are our "youth retreats" being used to instruct the youths in a more decorous retreat from what are now unpopular truths!? Is the world still seeing the same differ- ence between the church of Christ and the denominational world? Let's Get Back To Our Plea!: -- The world must be constantly re- minded that we have: "No book but the Bible; no creed but the Christ; no way but His way and no church but His church." We accept no authority but Christ, and refuse to be governed by any synod, council, or conference. No human creed can regul- ate our worship. We believe the Bible is an all-sufficient guide for all matters in religion, and feel that any addition is an insult to God Who gave it. Let the whole world know that anyone who is going beyond this Book "hath not God" (2 Jno. 9-11). And therefore, we stand self-condemned if we fellowship error (Gal. 2:18). Any "regrouping of forces due to changing conditions" is a sinister threat against the church -- whether it is spawned within or without the body of Christ. The primitive order of things can- not be forsaken nor any compromise tolerated. If new converts are not grounded thoroughly in this plea, we may soon find we have won many members while losing our cause. One generat- ion can see the loss of all the ground won by the noble restorat- ion. Let us not despise a single achievement or accomplish- ment we have gained. But let us beware, lest that which was won by a distinctive plea beome lost by apostasy! ----- Dillard Thurman, Gospel Minutes, June 19, 1959, reprinted in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 10, March 6, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090323/abdb88c5/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Mar 23 03:13:21 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:13:21 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Monday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: GOD HAS SPOKEN Watchfulness is essential to the security of the believers in Christ. Our security is conditional, not because of any lack on God's part (He is full able), but because of the capability of man- kind to choose to depart from God. The concept of "once saved, always saved" denies historical experience and the need- ed warnings of God. God, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not continue in faith (Jude 5). Their experience is used as a warning to saints (1 Cor. 10:1-12). Branches once fully partaking in the vine were cut off because of their own choices, and their end was destruct- ion (Jno. 15:1-10). Some olive branches were cut off because of their unbelief, but a regrafting was possible -- if they did not con- tinue in unbelief. On the other hand, those wild olive branches grafted in through faith and standing by faith could and would be cut off if they did not continue in faith (Rom. 11:16-24). This warning is addressed to saints (Rom. 1:7). The allures of the wicked world are many. Complacency is one path of least resistance. A truism declares the men, like rivers are made crooked by following the path of least resistan- ce. Delay of obedience to God costs irrevocably lost time and opportunities, and finally one's soul. Sacrifice is essential for every worthwhile choice of life. God has provided the strength, but we must make the choice to be strong in the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10). Do we have the courage to stand? (Eph. 6:13) ------------- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090323/05ca7d8b/attachment.html From GLClair at aol.com Mon Mar 23 09:38:54 2009 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:38:54 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] Open Letter - Understanding Honesty Message-ID: Understanding Honesty An Open Letter to our leaders in Federal, State, and Local Governing Bodies A. Adjectives. 1. kalos NT:2570, "good, admirable, becoming," has also the ethical meaning of what is "fair, right, honorable, of such conduct as deserves esteem"; it is translated "honest" [cf. Latin honestus (from honos, "honor")], which has the same double meaning as "honest" in the KJV, namely, regarded with honor, honorable, and bringing honor, becoming; in Luke 8:15 (KJV, and RV), "an honest and good (agathos) heart"; Rom 12:17; 2 Cor 8:21 and 13:7, RV, "honorable" (KJV, "honest"), of things which are regarded with esteem; in 1 Peter 2:12, of behavior, RV, "seemly," KJV, "honest" (i. e., becoming). See GOOD. Note: In Titus 3:14, the RV and KJV margins give what is probably the accurate meaning, "(to profess) honest occupations" (KJV, "trades"); in the texts "(to maintain) good works." 2. semnos NT:4586, "august, venerable," is rendered "honest" in Phil 4:8, KJV (marg., "venerable"), RV, "honorable" (marg., "reverent"). Matthew Arnold suggests "nobly serious." See GRAVE. Note: In Acts 6:3, "men of honest (RV, 'good') report" translates the passive voice of martureo, lit., "having had witness borne." B. Adverbs. 1. kalos NT:2573, corresponding to A, No. 1, is used in Heb 13:18, "honestly," i. e., honorably. See PLACE, C, Note (4), WELL. 2. euschemonos NT:2156, "becomingly, decently," is rendered "honestly" in Rom 13:13, where it is set in contrast with the confusion of gentile social life, and in 1 Thess 4:12, of the manner of life of believers as a witness to "them that are without"; in 1 Cor 14:40, "decently," in contrast with confusion in the churches. See DECENTLY. C. Noun. semnotes NT:4587 denotes "gravity, dignified seriousness"; it is rendered "honesty" in the KJV of 1 Tim 2:2, RV, "gravity." See GRAVITY. SOURCE: (From Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words) CONSIDER THIS: Whenever we see and hear via TV, magazines, and read our newspapers, it is scandalous to find that men and women in high places, in government, and in the handling of money and goods that belong to others are so terribly dishonest our hearts melt. What is the answer to this awful mess that our nation finds itself in these days> Is it possible to find a few honest and honorable men and women who will do whatever is necessary to bring our country?s integrity back to honor? We have recently had an election where the government has changed hands (i.e. from Republican to Democrat), may we see a change in the integrity of our elected officials that will display honor, honesty, and integrity in their dealings with the individuals in this country and with the nations of the world? Let us pray that we will see and experience a change for the better at the top of our governing heads. Look at the definitions of the Biblical words at the top of this article and compare the actions of those in government places where decisions are made that affect all honest Americans. Are the president, Vice president, congress, state governors, state representatives, and local mayors and councilmen and women providing honest oversight of their charge? Let us pray fully consider these and let our prayers and hopes for a better (i.e. more honor, honesty, and integrity) rule of government be forthcoming than that which we have seen and heard since December 2007 and consistently been exposed to (i.e. via TV. magazines, and newspapers) ever since. To those that govern us I implore you; stop the dishonesty and plundering of that which honest Americans have worked and labored most all their lives to acquire. Stop the misuse of funds that have been entrusted to insured banks and investment securities and etc. May all of our government entities stand up and demand honor, honesty, and integrity. _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) March 23, 2009 After all, God is watching you! **************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make meals for Under $10. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090323/f3b5a6a5/attachment-0001.html From kerux at bellsouth.net Mon Mar 23 15:27:49 2009 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:27:49 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] A>No Christian Was Ever Saved By Faith Alone (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: <3C5836D2AFD24CF4B7261161C5C7269E@D2381J91> No Christian Was Ever Saved By Faith Alone (Kent Heaton) The doctrine of salvation by faith alone is a popular means by which many in the religious world have been deceived into believing they have obeyed the will of God and live under the presumption they are disciples of Christ. While the doctrine has been around for many years, Billy Graham did much to propagate the idea of salvation by faith alone. He writes, "Those who surrender their lives to Him and receive Him into their hearts. It is this act which makes you a Christian" (My Answer, 9/15/55). Pulpits throughout the land offer an invitation of false hope when honest people are seeking the way of salvation. What they are given is a doctrine of men that is not found in scripture. Martin Luther said, "We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone." While he played with semantics, Luther suggested in opposition to the works salvation of the Roman Catholic Church that one had simply to have faith to be saved. Neither is true (salvation by works alone; salvation by faith alone) and yet many people are still being led to believe that accepting Christ as their Savior and Lord is all it takes to "make" a Christian. Remarkably, the only place in the Bible (all sixty-six books) that "faith" and "alone" is found is written by James in James 2:17 - "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (James 2:17 - King James Version). The American Standard Version renders the passage, "Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself." Martin Luther believed that James contradicted what Paul wrote but it never changed the truth of Paul's writings nor James because "no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:21). Not one example of a person becoming a New Testament disciple by "faith alone" is found in scripture. There are many examples of conversion (Acts of the Apostles) but none are told to say "yes" to Christ and at that moment experience the new birth. Does eternal life begin the moment we accept Christ as Savior and Lord? Not according to the Bible. Why do so many people believe in such a doctrine when there is no evidence of teaching in the word of God? The great tragedy of the doctrine of salvation by faith alone is the deception it brings to the hearts of those who honestly are seeking the truth of deliverance from sin and in the mind of God fail to achieve that blessing. Why? The apostle Paul warned Timothy of the dangers of the doctrines of men. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The doctrine of salvation by faith alone is a falsehood. Is faith necessary for salvation? "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Hebrews 11:6). What did Peter tell those gathered on Pentecost (Acts 2:36-41)? What instructions were given the Samaritans in Acts 8:5-13? How did the Ethiopian become a disciple of Christ (Acts 8:35-38)? How did Paul explain his conversion (Acts 9:1-19; 22:1-21)? Cornelius found the truth in Acts 10 as did Lydia in Acts 16:13-15; the jailor in Acts 16:25-34 and the Corinthians in Acts 18:8. What must you do to be saved today? Follow the same pattern as found in the New Testament. That is the only way to be a Christian (Luke 6:46-49). Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com Audio Sermons Available www.northfloridabiblecamp.com REGISTRATION NOW OPEN July 26 - August 1, 2009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090323/08017f63/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Mar 24 03:32:52 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:32:52 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE CHALLENGES OF CONGREGATIONAL AUTONOMY (1) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the first installment of a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. THE CHALLENGES OF CONGREGATIONAL AUTONOMY (1) The Bible teaches that Jesus came to earth to build His church (Matt. 16:18). This was accomplished on the day of Pent- ecost when those who obeyed the gospel at the preaching of the Apostles were added to the church, by the Lord Himself, (Acts 2:47). Having all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18) Jesus acts as "Head over all things to the church" (Eph. 1:22). Individual congregations of believers recognize the Head- ship of Jesus, yet are governed by a plurality of leaders chosen from the congregation based on qualifications revealed by the Holy Spirit (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9; Acts 20:28). These leaders are called "bishops" or "overseers" (Gr. episcopos); "pastors" or "shepherds" (Gr. poimen); and "elders" or "presbyters" (Gr. presbuteros) but all these names represent the same rank of leadership over a local congregation (see 1 Pet. 5:1-4). Script-ure teaches no organization or leadership higher than the elder- ship of a local congregation yet lower than the Headship of Christ. Those who seek to follow the Scriptural pattern of church organizaiton through the years have rightly rejected all human efforts to impose upon the church any superstructure which attempts to control local congregations. The Biblical pattern of congregational independence is clear. Although the Bible never uses the term "autonomous" to describe this independence, the principle is inferred by the very silence of Scripture regarding any structure higher than the local church, as well as the charge given to the elders of local congregations to "shepherd the church of God which is among you" (1 Pet. 5:2). While the auto- nomy of the local church is Biblical principle, it is not without its challenges. Let's consider a few such challenges: Autonomy Is Not A Matter Of Self-legislation: -- The word "auto- nomy" is derived from the Greek words auto meaning "self, or same" and nomos meaning "law" -- thus the idea is "a law unto themselves" (or "self-governing"). This term might give us the wrong impression. It might lead us to imagine that each congre- gation is left to govern themselves. Certainly in matters of judg- ment this is true. Yet this doesn't mean that each congregation may decide for itself what it should teach or how it should funct- ion -- that is determined by the Head -- Jesus. He governs throu- gh what is revealed in Scripture. This is what Jesus described after His teaching on discipline when He declared, literally "what ever you bind on earth will have been bound in Heaven" (Matt. 18:18 NASB). While no human being has the right to tell a con- gregation what it should do, Jesus Christ does have that right. Our efforts to seek truth must lead us to conform to His will, not to imagine we can set the rules for ourselves. Individual Efforts May Parallel The Work Of The Church: -- The Scriptureal pattern of congregational independence means not only that congregations must never surrender control to anoth- er organization (i.e. convention, synod, diocese, etc.), but also that it must not surrender its work or responsibility to another organization (i.e. missionary society, school, children's home, etc). Brethren since early in the last century have rightly oppos- ed the denominational moves of many congregations to financia- lly support human institutions. Such support is unscriptural and reflects a move away from the pattern of Scripture. If some- thing is the work of the church -- the church must carry it out. If it is not the work of the church -- the church has no business being involved in it! The challenge comes when efforts carried out by individuals parallel work for which the church is also responsible. In matters of benevolence this seems a little clearer to us. For ex- ample, although the church is authorized to support qualified widows (1 Tim. 5:3-16), we understand that it does not rob the church of its glory if a widow can support herself or some of her family can and does support her. In matters of teaching this be- comes a little harder for us to see. Must all efforts to teach the gospel be under the control and oversight of the local church? I'm not talking about rejecting the authority of the elders, but let's just say that an opportunity arises to teach in our work- place or some other venue -- most of us would recognize that this is not in conflict with the work of the church if I engage in a private Bible study which I have organized. What if this opport- unity involved some other Christians in the same venue? Does the fact that a group of individual Christians teach mean that the local church must assume oversight of this fro it to be Scriptur- al? We have rightly argued through the years that members of the church acting as individuals in things that are not the work of the church does not constitute the church taking action. As a result Christians as individuals may have a potluck, play a bal game, or go fishing together -- even though the church collect- ively has not right to build a kitchen, sponsor a ball game, or plan a fishing trip. Why doesn't the same thing hold true for those works whcih both the church and the individual share? For example, Lois and Eunice taught Timothy (2 Tim. 1:5). They did so in their responsibility to him as family. Would this have been a rejection of the work of the church? Of course not. Auto- nomy doesn't mean that our rights and responsibilities to teach the truth are limited to only what can be done in and through the local church. (More will be posted on this study tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090324/3682aed2/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Mar 24 03:32:36 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:32:36 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) QUESTION AND ANSWER Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is a quest- ion and answer from my files: QUESTION AND ANSWER QUESTION: -- Can Flesh And Blood Enter The Kingdom In Heaven? Please Explain 1 Cor. 15:50. ANSWER: -- In answering this question, let us first notice the passage mentioned in the question. It reads: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the king- dom of God" (1 Cor. 15:50). It does not say what people suppo- se it does. You will notice the word, "inherit," in that verse. That does not mean "enter." Nearly forty years ago I entered Fort Worth to make my home. But if I live to be a hundred, I don't expect to inherit the city. And yesterday I entered the local Kroger Grocery store, but I don't expect ever to inherit that store. The truth is, flesh and blood people enter the kingdom of God upon this earth Notice the promise of the Lord Jesus, "I will build my church, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven...Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!" (Matt. 16:18,19; Jno. 3:5). On the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter shows clearly that Jesus is now reigning as King in HIs kingdom (Acts 2:29-36). And Paul later writes of God, "Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of HIs love...He is the Head of the body, the church" (Col. 1:13,18). On Pentecost, and later in Colossae, thsoe were real "flesh and blood" who were "translated into the kingdom." But notice that they did not at that point "inherit" the kingdom. As Paul con- tinues on this theme, he writes, "Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immorality." That means a change is necessary (1 Cor. 15: 51,52), and that hasn't yet taken place. Whether or nto we will have bodies of flesh and blood after the resurrection, I just do not know, for it isn't revealed. I certainly believe that God is cap- able of making flesh and blood incorruptible and immortal, if He so wills. (In the context of the verse of Scripture in question we find another verse that says: "It is sown a natural body, it is rais-ed a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spirit- ual body." (1 Cor. 15:44). The spiritual body "does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (Lk. 24:39). When Jesus was raised from the dead, He was reinstated into His fleshly body by which He visited the apostles another forty days before ascending into heaven. But, He told them that a spiritual body does not have flesh and bones as He continued to have while He was upon the earth among them. But He told them that the spiritual body, the one raised at the general resurrection, will not have flesh and bones as He continued to have during the forty days He remained among them on earth. So, we can say that our bodies will be changed to a spiritual body at the resurrection one that will have no flesh and bones, JWS). The apostle John writes, "Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if He shall be manifested, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him even as He is" (1 Jno. 3:2). The "flesh and blood" body we now have is corruptible and mortal, and it will not inherit the kingdom. But the new body which is promised, will inherit. Paul writes, "But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come? Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other kind; but God giveth it a body even as it pleased Him, and to each seed a body of its own...So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body" (1 Cor. 15:35-38, 42-44). If neither John nor Paul knew the kind of body we will have - this "spiritual body" as opposed to the flesh and bloods body we now have -- who am I to pretend to have some special revel- ation from God which they did not? The body that God gives us in the resurrection will certainly be sufficient, even if we cannot define exactly what it is and how it looks. ------ Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 10, March 6, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090324/6113d00e/attachment.html From chris.gautney at gmail.com Tue Mar 24 07:43:52 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:43:52 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] How I want to be Found \ Things to Remember Message-ID: <9fd765230903240543q63080687p9dba142ed708e43f@mail.gmail.com> How I want to be Found 1. In Christ ? Phil. 3:9 2. Walking in truth ? 2 Jn. 4 3. Not sleeping ? Mk. 13:36; 1 Thess. 5:6 4. Watching ? Mt. 24: 36-44 5. In peace ? 2 Pet. 3:14 6. Blameless ? 2 Pet. 3:14 7. Prepared ? Mt. 25:1-3 8. Written in the Book of Life ? Rev. 20:15 9. Clothed ? 2 Cor. 5:1-6 ************************** Things to Remember 1. Thy creator ? Eccl. 12:1 2. Consequences of sin ? Lk. 17:32 3. Your former state, if unfaithful ? Rev. 2:5 4. The poor ? Gal.2:10 5. God?s Word ? Jude 17 6. Lot?s Wife ? Lk. 17:32 7. The death and suffering of Christ ? Lk. 22:19 From chris.gautney at gmail.com Tue Mar 24 07:46:38 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:46:38 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Memory \ Blessed is the Man that Endureth Message-ID: <9fd765230903240546u5de191dcg1d6af004c11bc259@mail.gmail.com> MEMORY 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Pet. 3:1-2, 12-21 God places great emphasis on memory He has given us several memorials 1. Rainbow ? Gen 9;14-16 2. The Passover ? Ex. 13:10 3. The Lord?s Supper ? 1 Cor. 11 4. Remember thy Creator ? Eccl. 12:1 5. Remember the consequences of disobedience ? Gal. 6:7-9 6. Remember Lot?s Wife ? Lk. 17:32 7. Remember the Old World ? 2 Pet. 2:5 8. Remember Sodom & Gomorrah ? 2 Pet. 2:6 9. Fallen Christians remember how they once lived ? Rev. 2:15 a. Memories will tempt us if we look back b. Memory of fleshpots tempted Israel ? Ex. 16:3; Num. 11:5 c. Memory will torture us if we remember evil (e.g. Joseph?s brothers) ? Gen. 42:21 d. Memory will comfort us is they are good ? 2 Tim. 4:6-8 10. Memory is carried beyond the grave ? Lk. 16:25 11. Remember we must obey the Lord 12. Remember Christ is coming again not to sacrifice but to receive his own 13. Remember ? Jn. 3:3,5 ************************** Blessed is the Man that Endureth Jas. 1:12 1. Temptation ? Jas. 1:12 2. Chastening ? Heb. 12:5-9 3. Affliction ? 2 Tim. 4:5; Jas. 5:11 4. Persecutions ? Mt. 5:10-12; 2 Tim. 3:11,12 5. Hardness ? 2 Tim. 2:3 6. Sound doctrine ? 2 Tim. 4:3; 4:1; 1 Tim. 4:16; 2 Jn. 9-11 The secret to enduring: Seeing Him who is invisible ? Heb. 11:27 From chris.gautney at gmail.com Tue Mar 24 07:51:04 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:51:04 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Backsliding \ Compliments of Christ Message-ID: <9fd765230903240551s4f063e50pb19e3db4844b412c@mail.gmail.com> Backsliding - Jn. 15 Used about 15 times in the Bible, mostly in Jeremiah to describe the condition of Israel Means to slide back, or to lapse morally 1. Warned against ? Matt. 26:41; Heb. 3:12; 1 Cor. 10:12; 2 Pet. 1:10 2. Examples a. Galatians ? Gal. 5:4 b. Simon the Sorcerer ? Acts 8:18-22 c. Demas ? 2 Tim. 4:10 d. Ephesians ? Rev. 2:4-5 3. Results of: a. Makes one fit only to be trodden under foot of men ? Mt. 5:13 b. Renders one unfit for the kingdom ? Lk. 9:62 i. This state is worse than the first ? 2 Pet. 2:20-22 4. Everyone looses as a result : a. Local church looses a member ? 1 Cor. 12:25 b. God looses a worker ? 2 Cor. 6:1 c. Brethren loose a brother/sister ? 1 Tim. 4:1 d. Community looses Christian influence ? Mt. 13:33 e. Backslider looses his soul ? Jn. 15:1-6 5. What should be our attitude toward a backslider ? Gal. 6:1; Jas. 5:19-20 6. Backslider preventions a. Add Christian graces ? 2 Pet. 1:5-10 b. Meet requirements for growth ? 1 Pet. 2:2 c. Watch and pray ? Mt. 26:41 d. Take heed ? 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 3:12 ************************** Compliments of Christ Mk. 12:41-44 1. Compliments of a flatterer are nothing Psa. 5:9; Prov. 20:19; 1 Thess. 2:5 2. There no virtue in backslapping 3. Jesus did not misplace a compliment, because he know what was in man Jn. 2:25 4. He complimented 6 persons (1) Nathaniel for his GUILENSS Jn. 1:47 (2) Roman Centurion for his GREAT FAITH Matt. 8:5-10 (3) John the Baptist for his GREATNESS Matt. 11:11 (4) The widow for her LIBERALITY Mk. 12:41-44 (5) A woman from Bethany for her GOOD WORK Mk. 14:3-9 (6) Mary for choosing that GOOD PART Lk. 10:41,42 From thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Tue Mar 24 08:44:57 2009 From: thornhill1 at frontiernet.net (thomas thornhill) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:44:57 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] the buckhorn teacher 3-22-09 Message-ID: <6B88073F19274D39B589208EA77E631B@your4dacd0ea75> THE BUCKHORN TEACHER "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2.Tim.4:2 Buckhorn church of Christ - Thomas Thornhill - editor. 13675 Hwy 341, Randolph MS 38864-9117. Tel. 662-568-2960. Cell 662-419-5378. E-mail thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Vol.7 March 22, 2009 No.22 PRESENT DANGERS FACING THE CHURCH - No.3 When asked the question, "In your judgment, what are the four greatest dangers facing the church today?" N. B. Hardeman replied, "1. A lack of Bible knowledge and a light regard for what it says. 2. A tendency to make the church a social club for entertainment. 3. A disposition to compromise the truth, and discourage its preaching. 4. A love for the praise of men more than the praise of God, lest they put us out of some social organization." The first danger mentioned by Hardeman, "the lack of Bible knowledge and a light regard for what it says" has always ranked at the very top of any list of dangers plaguing God's people in any age of man's existence. The warnings of Hardeman have been largely ignored in the years since. Today we see just how far many churches have drifted or are drifting away from the truth. Churches of Christ once considered to be sound in the faith have abandoned the New Testament pattern and have joined the ranks of denominationalism. As people become more ignorant of God's word, they lose respect for the authority of God's word to guide them, and as Hardeman warned, develop "a tendency to make the church a social club for entertainment." People become bored with following God's pattern. They feel it to be too restrictive and weird. They want something new, different and more exciting. So they develop a "form of godliness" while "denying its power" 2.Tim.3:5. Even though we do not see this tendency here (but the danger lurks nearby) it can be seen in other places. There are churches who still claim the name "church of Christ" that are practicing things that should be reserved only for a social meeting or entertainment club. If one were to enter such a place to worship you might find the attendees joining together in lifting up hands or handclapping for a performance well done. You might see a drama performed or hear a "praise team" singing, sometimes accompanied by instrumental music. You might notice the lights being dimmed as the Lord's Supper is offered, or the preacher might entertain the audience with anecdotes and humorous stories, tickling the ears while ignoring what God has to say. You may even hear a woman preach and/or take a leadership role over men. None of the things mentioned above are scriptural. I challenge anyone to put forth one scripture that will authorize any of them. Those who do them act as if they are doing them to honor God but this is not the case. They are being practiced because men want to be entertained. They are designed to arouse the emotions of men, but will one day bring down the wrath of God. Paul says of such people, "They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work" Tit.1:16. In reality they are enemies of Christ. Paul wrote, "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things" Phil.3:18-19. Churches that allow such things just mentioned have forgotten that all worship must be directed to God, for His glory and not for ours. Jesus taught ".The true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" Jn.4:23-24. The church designed by God was established to declare His purpose and plan in saving man all accomplished in Jesus Christ Eph.3:10-11. The church exists to equip God's people by building them up and preparing them for heaven, while at the same time preparing them to do the work of spreading the gospel to the lost Eph.3:11-12. Everything the members do, whether in work or worship, must be done in His name (by His authority) Col.3:17 so that God, not men, may receive the honor and glory Eph.3:21. Churches today, especially liberal ones, are feeling the full affects of apostasy because they have ignored the warning signs. Ward Hogland, preacher for the West Booneville church, has preached and debated these issues with liberal brethren for over 60 years. He has debated men who ignored the danger signs and led church after church into apostasy, thus he knows first hand what has happened through the decades. Ward, in his paper, "The Voice," (Vol.13, 4/1, 09, No.6) quotes from an article appearing in the Feb. issue of Christian Chronicle entitled "Church in America marked by decline" by Bobby Ross Jr. Ross writes, "The church in America is shrinking. The number of men, women, and children in the pews has dipped to the lowest level since a comprehensive effort to count numbers began in 1980." He further pointed out that membership in the church of Christ has dropped 78,436 in just six years also adding the fact that 21 congregations have recently added instrumental music in the worship service." Ward commenting on what Ross wrote said, "Kind friend, this includes all churches who tack the name "church of Christ" over their front door. This includes Classical liberals, Liberals, Conservative liberals and Conservatives." "Wow! Who would have thought this would have happened 40 years ago?" Ward then concludes, "Now what is the real reason for the decline? I have the answer here in my hand. I have a paper called Facts and Figures published in May of 1952. It says "the church of Christ is the fastest growing religious body in the world." Then it gives these facts for one month: 1,185 were baptized. Among those baptized were 18 Baptist, 15 Methodist, 4 Presbyterian, 15 left the Christian church. 10 public debates were conducted and 2 denominational preachers were converted. Kind friend, I want this to soak in. This was some 58 years ago! The church was not on the decline it was growing by leaps and bounds. This was before the Sponsoring church started. This was before the church was supporting human institutions. This was before puppet shows and theatrical productions came into the church. This was before the days of gymnasiums and a hodgepodge of other matters which has turned many churches into sanctified club houses! Now do you understand why we have a decline in the churches? Yes, back in the fifties the church of Christ was really the church of Christ." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090324/c33fa16e/attachment-0001.html From terrywbenton at bellsouth.net Tue Mar 24 22:10:17 2009 From: terrywbenton at bellsouth.net (Terry W. Benton) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:10:17 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] A>The Science of Missing Races Message-ID: The Science of Missing Races There are chimps and there are men. There are supposed to be about 300,000 generations of races that link the stages of progression from chimp to man, but only the chimp and the man survived. What made man and chimp strong enough to survive and all the races in between unable to survive or even leave a fossil record of their existence? Why did the chimp stay in the trees and the man work in the science lab to assert his relationship with the chimp? It is hard for the philosophical naturalists to explain but you must BELIEVE. It is the only faith allowed to be taught under the guise of "science". For the theistic evolutionist, when did God put a soul in the advanced race and how could that soul-man know not to try to mate with the soul-less-race just a fraction different from himself? What happened to those who were almost human? Professing to be wise...they became fools (Rom.1:20-22). Terry W. Benton Best Wishes From Terry W. Benton www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com "Choose Ye This Day...." (Joshua 24:15) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090324/bee7c164/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Mar 25 03:52:17 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:52:17 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) LIES ABOUT SIN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Wednesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: LIES ABOUT SIN Becoming like Christ is a neverending process. A Christian will not come to a point when he can say there are no struggles with sin in his life. Only in heaven will we be without sin. I believe that 's why JOhn warned us to look out for three lies about sin: 1. Saying, "we have fellowship with Him" while we "walk in darkness" (1 Jno. 1:6). 2. Saying, "we have no sin" (vs. 8). 3. Saying, "we have not sinned" (vs. 10). After each of these lies, John gives us the truth. First, if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another and Jesus' blood cleanses us from all sin (vs. 7). Second, if we con- fess our sins, He forgives and cleanses us (vs. 9). Third, if we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus speaks in our defense (2:1). He is the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins (2:2). We all struggle with temptation. We make mistakes and sin. Denial doesn't do us any good. We must see sin for what it really is. ------------ Shane Williams, The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, No. 10, Feb. 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090325/956117f7/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Mar 25 03:52:30 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:52:30 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE CHALLENGES OF CONGREGATIONAL AUTONOMY (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second and final installment of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. THE CHALLENGES OF CONGREGATIONAL AUTONOMY (2) Production Of Bible Study Tools: -- The role of the church as the "pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15) grants to it the authority to provide the tools necessary to teach the Bible. Many local churches fulfill this role by writing and printing their own handouts, Bible class material, bulletins, or other tools. Does that mean that all literature must be produced by the local church? Do individuals or groups of individual Christians have the right to produce Bible study tools? A number of years ago a brother who was considering wors- hiping where I preached expressed concern over efforts made by Christians acting together as individuals to produce Bible study literature. He worried that this represented an effort to exercise control over individual congregations. I understand his concern. Many denominations have created superstructur- es and publishing houses which regulate literature used by their denomination (e.g. Watchtower Society, Southern Baptist Convention, etc.). However, there is a difference between a human institution presuming to mandate what literature church- es must use (with local churches then accepting that mandate) and brethren as individuals making literature available to church- es or individuals. Consider an example -- I know of no local church which undertakes the work and expense of printing its own Bibles. Instead, they purchase Bibles from publishing houses which are denominational if not secular in nature. Is this a rejection of church autonomy? No. We understand that not all churches could manage the expense, time demands, expertise, and equip- ment necessary to carry out such an effort. Now, if the time came in America when Bibles were not available or reliable, then churches would have to assume this work -- but at present that is not necessary. If we understand this, why is it any different if individual Christians provide study tools? It does not compro- mise autonomy if brethren as individuals help in a work which the church shares. What is ironic is the fact that brethren who might take issue with the efforts of Christians to produce Bible study literature think nothing about purchasing Bibles, referen- ce books, or literature from denominational bookstores at the mall or down the street. Does it somehow preserve autonomy to rely on sources subject to denominational error but then oppose efforts made by sound brethren to teach the truth? If we are going to accept the principle of church autonomy we must also recognize that it does not compromise this autonomy for Christians as individuals to do what is necessary (and within the bounds of scriptural limitation) to provide brethren with tools that are sound and scriptural. Independence Is Not Isolation: -- It is not the business or right of any other congregation to meddle in the affairs of another congr- egation nor to dictate its behavior. However, being children of God means something. John teaches that those who have fellowship with God the Father, are in fellowship with others who are in fellowship with Him (1 Jno. 1:3). In Christ, we are bret- hren. We must "love the brotherhood" (1 Pet. 2:17). Congregat- ional independence doesn't mean that we ignore the spiritual well-being of our brethren in other places. Paul didn't do that. When the churches in Galatia began to give way to error, he wrote to them (Gal 1:6-9). Jesus led John to write seven differ- ent churches of vastly different strengths and weaknesses at a time when John himself was exiled on Patmos (Rev. 1-3). Some- one might argue, "yes, but they were apostles." That's true, but does that mean we should close our eyes and ears to the needs of our brethren? (I think we have to agree though that the apost- les had special obligations to all the churches which Paul said that he was concerned for all the churches. Other Christians can be concerned about any and every church, but it is not their prerogative to interfere with their autonomy. I believe an elder or some other brother might warn another congregation about a brother from which they have withdrawn who goes to join him- self to the second congregation. But they have no authority to tell the elders what they must then do about the withdrawn brot- her. JWS). Imagine a situation in which a brother in Christ gave way to sin and became a drunkard, a thief, a drug abuser, a rapist, a child molester, or even a murderer. In spite of the best efforts of the brethren in his congregation, he refused to repent but then chose to leave and identify with another congregation. Does autonomy mean that his brethren should ignore his unrepent- ance and close their eyes to the danger to his own soul, or even the physical well-being of those in the congregation to which he has moved? In some cases, in the types of sins mentioned, crim- inal law itself would count it as complicity to remain silent. Would it not constitute spiritual complicity in sin to fail to help our brethren restore such a one, or guard themselves against the physical or spiritual damage such a one might cause? This is not to say that brethren and elderships should become priva- te detectives, talebearers, backbiters, or gossips. Certainly, the conditions would be different if such a brother or sister was re- pentant. However, the point is that if carried too far we can allow an extreme concept of autonomy to lead us to "walk on the other side" while our brethren lie in the ditch of error, hardship, and sin. That is not love. That is not the biblical pattern. (Such a brother as is mentioned above, first of all should be turn- ed over to the police if he is involved in criminal activities. But if he in a constant continuation of sin against himself, against God, and against the church of which he is a member, he must be disciplined and if necessary, withdrawn from. As mentioned above, if he has been withdrawn from, we must continue to try to restore such a one. But if he joins himself to another congre- gation, that congregation needs to be made known that he had been withdrawn from by the first congregation. But, then, it will be left up to the second congregation as to what they do concerning him. We know that Paul warned congregations about problems that he heard was among them and that he would have to address such when he came to them if such had not been resolved. But he had authority to do such as an apost- le. As individual Christians we can warn of such sins being com- mitted by certain brethren, but we cannot tell brethren from another congregation what they should do about the matter. When I was in Nigeria, I had to deal with brethren who had with- drawn themselves from a brother and would not allow such bro-ther to come back into their meeting place. They also claimed to have withdrawn themselves as a congregation, from any con-gregation that had accepted the withdrawn from brother into their midst. But not having been joined together in in any joint activities as congregations, they had no fellowship to withdraw from another congregation. JWS). ------- Kyle Pope in Truth Mag- azine, Vol. 52, No. 8, August, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090325/f82bbebb/attachment-0001.html From chris.gautney at gmail.com Wed Mar 25 08:07:47 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:07:47 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Man's Obligations / Fear Not Message-ID: <9fd765230903250607x3ce376d3jd456e2e1db3df853@mail.gmail.com> Man?s Obligation to God Psa. 8 1. Fear God ? Eccl. 12:13; Heb. 12:28 2. Obey God ? 1 Sam. 15:22; Matt. 7:21 3. Love God ? Matt. 22:37,38; 1 Jn. 4:19 4. Worship God ? Matt. 4:10; Jn. 4:23,24 5. Serve God ? Matt. 4:10; 6:24 6. Be a faithful steward of God ? 1 Cor. 4:2 Man?s Obligations to Others 1. Love them ? Matt. 22:39 2. Teach them ? Rom. 1:14,15; Ezek. 33:8,9 3. Follow golden rule ? Matt. 7:12 4. Obey laws of land ? Rom. 13:1 5. Be peacemakers ? Matt. 5:9 6. Be truthful ? Eph. 4:25 7. Refrain from evil speaking ? Jas. 4:11 8. Seek their welfare ? Phil. 2:4 Man?s Obligation to Self 1. Make a living for himself and his family ? 2 Thess. 3:10; 1 Tim. 5:8 2. Preserve and maintain health ? 1 Tim. 5:23; Acts 27:34 3. Have a good name ? Prov. 22:1 4. Have a good influence ? Rev. 14:13 5. Study and acquire knowledge ? 2 Tim. 2:15 6. Investigate & make certain of his salvation ? Acts 17:11 *************************** Fear Not 1 Jn. 4 1. We fear not the darts of the wicked, because God is our shield Gen. 15:1; Eph. 6:16 2. We fear no danger, because of the presence of the Lord Gen. 26:24; Matt. 28:20 3. We fear not our enemies, because the Lord will fight for us Exo. 14:13-14 4. We have no fear of being forsaken, because God has promised to be with us Deut. 31:6; Jas. 4:8 5. We have not fear of starving, because the Lord has promised to feed us Matt. 6:25-33 6. We have no fear of our burdens being too heavy, because me we may cast them on the Lord Psa. 55:22; 1 Pet. 5:7 7. We have no fear of society or man, because the Lord is our helper Heb. 13:6 8. We have no fear of persecution or martyrdom, because man is not able to kill the soul Matt. 10:28 9. We few not death, because the Lord will be with us as we walk through the shadow of death Psa. 23:4 What should we fear? God ? Eccl. 12:13; Acts. 13:16; 1 Pet. 2:17; Rev. 14:6-7 From chris.gautney at gmail.com Wed Mar 25 08:12:22 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:12:22 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Characteristics of an Ideal Christian \ Things that Keep Prayer From Being Answered Message-ID: <9fd765230903250612y1873821r359ec8b3aa62dad3@mail.gmail.com> Characteristics of an Ideal Christian Rom. 12 1. Sacrifice ? v.1 2. Not like the world, but different from it ? v.2, 1 Jn. 2:15-17; Jas. 4:4 3. Humble ? v.3; Lk. 14:11 4. Recognize his being a part of the whole body and that he must do his part ? v.4-8; 1 Cor. 12:14-31 5. Love without hypocrisy ? v.9; Matt. 22:37-39 6. Abhors evil, cleaves to the good ? v.9; Amos 5:15 7. Has brotherly love ? v.10; 1 Pet. 2:17 8. Prefers the brethren ? v.10; Gal. 6:10 9. Industrious & energetic in business; - v.11; 2 Thess. 3:10 10. Fervent in spirit ? v.11; Rev. 3:15,16 11. Serves the Lord ? v.11; Matt. 4:10 12. Rejoices in the hope ? v.12; Phil. 4:4 13. Patient or steadfast in tribulation ? v.12; Matt. 13:20,21 14. Benevolent ? v.12; Jas. 1:27 15. Hospitable ? v.13; 1 Pet. 4:9 16. Returns good for evil ? v. 14,17,20,21; Matt. 5:38,39 17. Compassionate ? v.15; Col. 3:12 18. Has the same mind toward all Christians regardless of their positions in life ? v.16; Jas. 2:1-4 19. Honest ? v.17; Rom. 13:13 20. Endeavors to live peaceable with all men ? v.18; Rom. 14:19 ************************** Things that Keep Prayer From Being Answered 1. Disbelief ? Jas. 1:6-7; Matt. 21:22 2. Disobedience ? 1 Jn. 3:22 3. Worldliness ? Isa. 59:2; 1 Pet. 3:12 4. Selfishness ? Jas. 4:3 5. An unforgiving spirit ? Matt. 6:14:15 6. Things not in harmony with the Father?s will ? 1 Jn. 3:22 7. God withholds the things which do not work to our good ? Rom. 8:28 From chris.gautney at gmail.com Wed Mar 25 08:16:34 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:16:34 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The I AMs of Christ / Unity Message-ID: <9fd765230903250616w6b246423n6e37b42652f199f7@mail.gmail.com> The ?I AMs? of Christ Rev. 1:11; Phil. 3 1. Alpha & Omega, the first & the last ? Rev. 1:11; Jn. 8:58 2. Bright and Morning Star ? Rev. 22:16 3. I am He that searches the hearts ? Rev. 3:23 4. I am the way, the truth and the light ? Jn. 14:6 5. Bread of life ? Jn. 6:35 6. Light of the world ? Jn. 8:12 7. True vine ? Jn. 15:1-5 8. Door of the sheep ? Jn. 10:7 9. Good Shepherd ? Jn. 10:11 10. Resurrection & the life ? Jn. 11:2 ************************* UNITY Jn. 10:1-18 Why should we have unity? 1. It is a command ? Eph. 4:3 2. Christ Prayed for Unity ? Jn. 17:21 3. Division is Condemned ? 1 Cor. 3:4; 1:10 4. Christ Came to Establish it ? Eph. 2:14,15 5. We glorify God in Unity ? Rom. 15:6; Eph. 4:13 6. David?s Statement ? Psa. 133:1 7. God?s people only one?s that have unity ? Matt. 10:32-39 In what should we be united 1. Mind ? Phil. 2:2 2. Speech ? 1 Cor. 1:10 3. Faith ? Eph. 4:4-6 4. Practice ? Phil. 3:16-21; 2 Cor. 6:14-18 5. Name ? Eph. 3:14-15 6. Church ? Eph. 1:22, 23; 1 Cor. 12:25 From crxtra at gmail.com Wed Mar 25 19:56:44 2009 From: crxtra at gmail.com (Steven C. Harper) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:56:44 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A> Synonyms of Faith [4] Message-ID: <000001c9adad$bcbc8a30$36359e90$@com> Sorry about the lateness of this; I was away from online access, then I erred in posting correctly. From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. Editor: Steven Harper March 22, 2009 Synonyms of Faith [4] As we conclude this series of studies on synonyms of faith, let us remember that faith means conviction that God's word is true, trust in God that He will keep His word, and dependence on God to keep His word. When we have that kind of faith, it naturally brings us to the next synonym for faith: Sacrificial Obedience. Here is where many in the religious world differ with, or simply deny, Scripture. Throughout the New Testament, though, the faith of the early disciples was demonstrated by this very aspect. But the writer of the book of Hebrews even goes back to Old Testament examples to show that faith has always meant this. Consider just a few of his examples: In the first example, we are told Abel "offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous" (Heb. 11:4). Abel's faith moved him to literally act selflessly and sacrifice something for God. We are also told about Noah, who "by faith.in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household" (v. 7). His faith moved him to give up his life to do what God said he must do, and it saved his household! And, in this text, we also read of Abraham who, because of his faith, picked up and moved to where God said he should go, "not knowing where he was going" (v. 8); he was willing to sacrifice the comfort and security of all he knew, and it was because he had faith. These examples of faith are merely illustrations of the kind of saving faith we must have if we are to please God. In the midst of these examples, the writer admonishes us, "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). Surely, we must see from these examples that the kind of faith that pleases God is one that causes us to act. Anything less will not be pleasing to Him! And James gives further evidence that this is true. In James 2, he asks rhetorically, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?" (v. 14). He then goes on to give us a 'real-world' example: "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" (vv. 15, 16). Real, saving faith is that which moves us to do something and is much more than a mere mental assent that Jesus is the Christ. Can you imagine this same scenario where the needy brethren come to us, only to hear us merely say, "I believe Jesus is the Christ"? Or what if we just stood there, quoting Scripture to them about how much God loves them? What good have we done them? How has this demonstrated our faith? Only when we are willing to make some personal sacrifices [a little food and clothing for their needs] can we honestly say we have demonstrated true faith. Words do little or nothing towards the proving of our faith! But with this in mind, James then declares, "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (v. 17). He repeats this two more times (vv. 20, 26) to make the point: a 'faith' that does nothing is a dead, useless faith - it is a faith that will not save us! James even points to the fact even demons believe "there is one God" - and at least they tremble at the thought (v. 19)! Many today who profess to have 'faith' do not even have as much faith as these demons, for they think nothing of profaning His name and His church by polluting it with worldly enticements that appeal to the flesh instead of the spirit, and who speak the wisdom of men from the pulpits instead of offering the spiritual blessings and the pure truth of God's word. Let us be alert, lest we also fall into the same rut of meaningless 'faith' where we say beautiful words, but do nothing to back it up. But the true disciple understands that faith means more than just what he or she gets out of it; faith means giving one's all in service to the Lord and to others. It is at the heart of the apostle Paul's plea to the Roman brethren when he wrote, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1). Sacrificial obedience is not merely a suggestion - it is expected. Initially, every new disciple must sacrifice his will to accept the will of God as his rule and guide; then throughout each disciple's life in Christ, he will choose to make personal sacrifices to fulfill God's will, to provide for the needs of others, and to save souls. But only when we "count others more significant than yourselves" and "look not only to [our] own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Phlp. 2:3, 4) will we be willing to sacrifice for others and fulfill the Lord's will. When it comes down to it, humility is at the foundation of faith; without humility, no man will submit to the will of God and no man will admit he is accountable to anyone other than self. This sad fact is why so many today refuse to acknowledge God or Christ, though they often cloak it in a loud denial of God's existence and ridicule of those who do. Because they refuse to submit to any man - or God - they can never have faith. To many [more and more every day], they declare that they refuse to 'believe in anything they cannot see' and reject God's word without ever investigating. [Though they make this claim and make themselves out to be 'scholarly' or 'intelligent' for doing so, they do not hold anything else to these standards. They believe certain planets and solar systems exist, as well as many microscopic creatures, body parts and cells they have never personally seen.] But let us not think this unwillingness to practice true faith through humility and sacrificial obedience is limited to the atheistic humanists; sadly, it is just as prevalent among professing believers! Many who claim to believe in Jesus Christ and in God have never humbled themselves to accept - without reservation - the words found within Scripture. Many claim to be 'believers' but the reality is, they do what they want to do and justify themselves by pointing to the passages that seem to agree with them while ignoring all others. That, friends and brethren, is not faith; that is superficial righteousness and hypocrisy. My hope is that these last few articles about synonyms of faith have helped you, the reader, to better understand what it means to have true, saving faith. If this is not the kind of faith you have, then please do all the Lord would have you do because it is your soul at stake here. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). But after hearing and obeying, it is time to act. -- Steven Harper -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090325/93033349/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Mar 26 04:30:27 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:30:27 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) WANTED: AVERAGE, ORDINARY PEOPLE Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: WANTED: AVERAGE, ORDINARY PEOPLE The work of God is nto done by "great" people but by ordin- ary people who are committed to Him. We may oten think, "I am nothing. I have no/little gifts or talents. I fail far too often. Surely God needs to use someone else." The answer to those kinds of thoughts is found throughout God's Word. For example, He used the hesitant, poor speaking Moses to lead Israel from bondage. Consider some of Moses' remarks concerning his own abilities or the lack thereof: "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (Exo. 3:11). "Suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice?" "Suppose they say, 'The Lord has not appeared to you?'" (Exo. 4:1). "Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue" (Exo. 4:10). Yet, God used Moses to accomplish great things. God used shepherds, fishermen and farmers to accomplish His work and record His Words. A little known carpenter and peasant girl rais- ed a Son. Has God changed today? No, that's still the way He works. We have more conveniences and more technology today. But it is still ordinary people who do God's extraordinary work. Per- haps it is parents praying with their children and teaching them the importance of following God. It can be something as simple as an employee in a normal workplace talking to a co-worker about spiritual matters. These may not strike us as powerful great works, yet they are effective and have a lasting impact. We we ask, "Does God really want to use me?" the answer is clear. "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" (1 Cor. 1:27). God has been using ordinary people like you and me for thousands of years. Why would He stop now? -----------Shane Williams, in The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, No. 10, Feb. 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090326/400b555c/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Mar 26 04:30:41 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:30:41 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) CALEB'S FAITH Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. CALEB'S FAITH Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Seth- ur, Nahbi and Genuel are all Biblical names. Although listed in a single Old Testament chapter; we do not recognize any of them and yet they were all leaders in their tribes. They helped shape the destiny of the nation of Israel. So why have they been forgot- ten? Let's try this again, do you recognize these names: Joshua and Caleb? Bible students of all ages instantly recognize them right away. The ten names are the names of the ten "faithless" spies. How is it that we remember Joshua and Caleb but have forgotten the ten? The answer is revealed in Num. 13. A Historical Moment: -- Num. 13,14 is one of the most significant moments in Israelite history. Moses had led the people from Sinai to the border of the Promised Land. Twelve men were issu- ed orders to go on a reconnaisance mission to spy out the land. They made some amazing discoveries in their forty-day journey. In the south country they found the descendants of Anak, peop- le of gigantic stature. In the fertile valleys they found prolific vineyards and large quantities of fruit. From one vineyard they cut a huge cluster of grapes requiring two men to carry it on a pole between them. This they took back for the nation to behold. When they returned, the nation gathered to hear their first- hand report. We can only imagine their reaction as they saw the fruit and heard the report of the productivity of the land "flowing with milk and honey." But then ame the "bad news," the inhabi- tants lived in large fortified cities and the Amalekites, Hittites and the Canaanites occupied the land. Finally it was reported that there were "giants" in the land. Protests arose from fear and anxiety. It is Caleb who attempts to quiet the crowd (Num. 13:30). He desires to instill in the people his own courage and conviction to go forth as God had commanded, but Caleb is contradicted by the ten faithless spies who insist that success is impossible (Num. 13:31-33). The words of the ten were faith destroying. Num. 14 unveils the beginning of rebellion. Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb attempt to bring the people to faith, but the people will not be persuaded. The result: a whole generation was allowed to experience their own prophecy (Num. 14:3) and thus they died in the wilderness (Num. 14:29-35). Of the twelve spies, only Joshua and Caleb were permitted to enter the Promi- sed Land. So today, we recognize these two names, but have forgotten the ten. The Difference Maker: -- What set Joshua and Caleb apart from the ten? Num. 14:24 states, "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it." It is this spirit that determines whether our faith is remember- ed or forgotten. Remembered faith knows and depends on the promises of God. Caleb remembered God's deliverance by His mighty out- stretched hand and arm via the ten plagues. He knew God had told the nation at Mt. Sinai that He would lead them by "an angel" and "bring you into the place which I have prepared" (Exo. 23:20). The only condition God placed on this fulfillment was faithfulness and Caleb focused on this. "If the Lord is pleas- ed with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us..." (Num. 14:8). Pleasing the Lord was all that mattered to Caleb. If our faith is going to be remembered we must have the same spirit today. Confident Steps: -- The bottom line in the wilderness controver- sy ultimately rested on one issue: "Would God's people do what God had commanded?" God describes Caleb as having "followed Me fully." Caleb's journey to Canaan was not a tentat- ive, reluctant and uncertain one. Each step was made in confid- ence that God would fulfill His promises. Caleb was willing to take the last step of entering the Promised Land with the same faith that he took with his first step out of Egypt. The lesson for us: remembered faith is not a halting, uncertain, on and off again kind of faith, but it is willing, confident and fearless in doing God's will. Faithful people are not afraid to go where the Lord leads them. Abraham wasn't; Daniel wasn't ; Noah wasn't and Caleb wasn't . I suspect that all of us can remember someone from the past that exhibited great faith -- a grandparent, friend or fellow Christian. The one whose faith we remember will have the same qualities seen in Caleb. The question for us is simple: "Will someone yet to come think about me and say, 'I remember their faith? They were an inspiration to me.'" ------ Bill Feist in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 6, June, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090326/79d9609e/attachment.html From chris.gautney at gmail.com Thu Mar 26 08:11:36 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:11:36 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The I AMs of Christ \ Unity Message-ID: <9fd765230903260611t1aa6136foe2a8d542b40b70a7@mail.gmail.com> The ?I AMs? of Christ Rev. 1:11; Phil. 3 1. Alpha & Omega, the first & the last ? Rev. 1:11; Jn. 8:58 2. Bright and Morning Star ? Rev. 22:16 3. I am He that searches the hearts ? Rev. 3:23 4. I am the way, the truth and the light ? Jn. 14:6 5. Bread of life ? Jn. 6:35 6. Light of the world ? Jn. 8:12 7. True vine ? Jn. 15:1-5 8. Door of the sheep ? Jn. 10:7 9. Good Shepherd ? Jn. 10:11 10. Resurrection & the life ? Jn. 11:2 ************************** UNITY Jn. 10:1-18 I. Why should we have unity? 1. It is a command ? Eph. 4:3 2. Christ Prayed for Unity ? Jn. 17:21 3. Division is Condemned ? 1 Cor. 3:4; 1:10 4. Christ Came to Establish it ? Eph. 2:14,15 5. We glorify God in Unity ? Rom. 15:6; Eph. 4:13 6. David?s Statement ? Psa. 133:1 7. God?s people only one?s that have unity ? Matt. 10:32-39 II. In what should we be united 1. Mind ? Phil. 2:2 2. Speech ? 1 Cor. 1:10 3. Faith ? Eph. 4:4-6 4. Practice ? Phil. 3:16-21; 2 Cor. 6:14-18 5. Name ? Eph. 3:14-15 6. Church ? Eph. 1:22, 23; 1 Cor. 12:25 From chris.gautney at gmail.com Thu Mar 26 08:19:30 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:19:30 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] What does Christ Offer? \ God is Merciful Message-ID: <9fd765230903260619x5cde8ccbxa3689a52079b748d@mail.gmail.com> What does Christ Offer? Jn. 14:1-4 1. Rest ? Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 3:3-11; Rev. 14:13 2. Life ? Jn. 10:10 3. Love ? Jn. 15:13 4. Salvation in a Plan ? Jn. 3:3-5; Mk. 16:15,16 5. Joy ? Jn. 16:24 6. Peace ? Lk. 2:14; Jn. 14:27 7. A place prepared ? Jn. 14:1-6 8. Necessities of life ? Matt. 6:33 9. To make all things work together for good ? Rom. 8:28 ************************** God is Merciful Psa. 86:5 His mercy is eternal ? Psa. 103:17; 106:1 1. It moves us to repentance ? Joel 2:12,13; Rom. 2:4 2. It makes salvation possible ? Lam. 3:22; Titus 3:5 3. It is the source of our forgiveness ? Micah 7:18; Eph. 2:4-5 4. It is the basis of our hope ? Psa. 130:7; 147:11 5. It is offered to repentant sinners ? Psa. 32:5; Prov. 28:13; Lk. 15:18-20 From chris.gautney at gmail.com Thu Mar 26 08:23:29 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:23:29 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Nine Blessings Christians Possess \ I Beseech You Message-ID: <9fd765230903260623x2128d77wcdee7fd2c5d3c1b6@mail.gmail.com> Nine Blessings That Christians Possess 1. A righteousness that can never be altered ? Rom. 1:17 2. A pardon which can never be reversed ? Micah 7:18 3. A peace that can never be disturbed ? Eph. 2:14 4. A strength that can never be enfeebled ? Eph. 3:16 5. A refuge which can never be moved ? Psa. 46:1 6. A joy which can never be described ? 1 Pet. 1:8 7. A hope which can never be disappointed ? 1 Tim. 1:1 8. A supply which can never be exhausted ? Phil. 4:19 9. An inheritance which can never fade away ? 1 Pet. 1:4 (By no means can we really count all the blessings Christians enjoy in Christ - CSG) ************************** I Beseech You Rom. 12 1. That you present you bodies a living sacrifice ? Rom. 12:1 2. That you be followers of me ? 1 Cor. 4:15,16 3. That you receive not the grace of God in vain ? 2 Cor. 6:1,2 4. That you walk worthy of the calling by which you were called ? Eph. 4:1 5. That you abstain from fleshly lusts ? 1 Pet. 2:11 6. That you love one another ? 2 Jn. 5 From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Mar 27 03:18:39 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:18:39 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) IS IT APPROPRIATE? Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: IS IT APPROPRIATE? In Eph. 4:1, Paul wrote, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." Christians are obligated to be wht we profess to believe. We have been saved. We are in Christ. We are then to lives as Christians are to live. We are required to move on from simply having an understanding and believing what God's pur- pose is for us to actually having that understanding make a difference in our lives. Paul, in 1 Tim. 2:9,10, instructed the young evangelist to teach, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array, but (which becometh women professing godliness" with good works." The true import of this passage is found in the word "modest." Paul referred to modest apparel. What does that mean? It means apparel that is "orderly, suitable to a character, a time, place or occasion; becoming, appropriate." Whether we like it or not, it is true that our actions often speak much more clearly than our words when it comes to the matter of our convictions. It is easy to say something, but the question is, "Do our actions bear out wht we say?" Is our walk of equal value to our claims? Are we walking worthy of the voc- ation wherewith we were called? Friend, modesty has to do with more than just the way a per- son dresses. When we understand that the word modest refers to something that is suitable to a character, time, place and occ- asion, when we consider that it means appropriate, it bcomes easy to see that modesty can and must be discussed in referen- ce to all aspects of our lives. Christians are to be modest. That being the case, is the way we talk, the way we act, the way we think, the things we do for recreation -- are all of these things appropriate for one who claims to be a follower of the Lord and who wears His name? Have you ever heard what a person was wearing described as "making a fashion statement"? Have you ever heard the ex- pression, "Clothes make the man"? There is truth to be found in those statements because what we wear says a great deal about our character and how we feel about an occasion or a function that we are attending. I believe that dressing modestly, or appropriately has become a problem for many Christians be- cause they are using the wrong standard to determine what is modest, whay is appropriate for a child of God to wear. Far too many Christians are making their fashion choices based upon what the world says is appropriate and not upon what God's Word indicates is appropriate. I realize that the Bible does nto give a specific dress code, and that it is not specific abut how long, short, tight, or sheer clothing should be. But I remember hearing an older preacher say something to the effect tht he might not be able to clearly de- fine pornography, but he was sure able to recogize it when he saw it. It is the same with appropriate clothing for one who wears the name of Christ. If we have truly been in the Word of God and have made it so much a part of our very being that our senses have been exercised, by reason of use, to discern betwe-en good and evil -- then we will be able to tell what is appropriate -- modest -- and what is not. The fashion designers of London, New York, and Paris do nto determine what is appropriate.--------- Greg Litmer in That Ye May Grow Thereby. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090327/39d1dab8/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Mar 27 03:18:48 2009 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:18:48 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) MEN OUGHT TO WORSHIP GOD Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. MEN OUGHT TO WORSHIP GOD The world's philosophy tells us tht we can worship as we please and whom we desire. This is true legally, but to please God, our worship must be on God's terms. When Satan tempted Jesus to fall down and worship him, Jesus responded, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve" (Matt. 4:10). God is a jealous God and He made it very clear to Israel of old when He said, "Thou shalt have no other gods be- fore Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I am a jealous God..." (Exo. 20:3-5). God--The Object Of Our Worship: -- In today's society, men wors- hip about everything but God. They worship men, angels, false gods, and even Satan. When Cornelius fell down at the feet of Peter to worship him, Peter said, "Stand up, I myself am also a man" (Acts 10:26). He would not allow Cornelius to worship him. Jesus sharply rebuked Satan when he tried to get Jesus to worship him (Matt. 4:8-10). John was told, by an angel, when he fell down before the angel to worship him, "See thou do it not, worship God" (Rev. 22:8,9). The Samaritan woman told Jesus that "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain (Mt. Gerizim) and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerus- alem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (Jno. 4:20-24). Once and for all Jesus settled the issue that men ought to worship God! Man's Response: -- Man's response to God's desire for worship has gone from faithful worship by many to no worship at all. Men have responded sometimes by: 1) Worshiping God in vain. Jesus accused the scribes and Pharisees, "But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrin- es the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9). You see, our teach- ing can be of such nature that it even renders our worship vain. These people were worshiping God, but ti was to no avail. How sad it is when men go through a form of worship and it all be for naught! 2) Worshiping to please self. Paul referred to "will worship" as he wrote the Colossians (Col. 2:23). Many respond to the plea of worshiping God by doing as they please in worship. Often it is said, "We laike it this way" or "it sounds good" and the list goes on. When folks say things like that, it is pretty evid- ent that they have no desire to please God in their worship! It might be well just here to remind you, "For even Christ pleased not Himself..." (Rom. 15:3). 3) Mockery. Men have been known to just make fun of the Lord in their worship. In the past, the Jews worshiped in mock- ery. "And their worship has gone from faithful worship by many to no worship at all, and did spit upon HIm, and bowing their knees worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple robe from Him, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify HIm" (Mk. 15:18,19). There is no way tht worship of this nature could be sincere; but they were merely having a good time -- this the Lord will not accept. 4) In spirit and in truth. The only kind of response that God will accept is the kind of worship Jesus referred to as He talked with the woman at the well. He said, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth" (Jno. 4: 24). Worship is to be of a spiritual nature. To worship in spirit is to worship from the heart. It involves understanding, meaning and feeling. To worship in truth is to worship by the teaching of truth, the Word of God (Jno. 17:17). The Word of God must be the standard by which we worship. Early Christians followed this rule when "they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doct- rine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). They also sang praises to God from the heart (Eph. 5:19). (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20090327/06338387/attachment-0001.html From chris.gautney at gmail.com Fri Mar 27 10:53:54 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:53:54 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Never A Man Spoke Like This Man \ Why The Bible Was Written Message-ID: <9fd765230903270853q7da2dc7cg3cbc443b0fbc855@mail.gmail.com> Never a Man Spoke Like This Man Jn. 7:46 1. Such authority ? Matt. 7:28,29; 17:1-5; Heb. 1:1,2 2. Such words of tenderness ? Matt. 26:50; Jn. 8:3-4; Matt. 11:28-30; 23:37 3. With such love and compassion ? Jn. 15:12,13; Lk. 23:34 4. Such scathing rebukes ? Matt. 11:20-30 5. Such profound truths with such simplicity ? Matt. 13:3-8 6. Such promises ? Matt. 16:16; Matt. 28:19,20; 6:33 7. Such words of hope ? Jn. 14;14; 11:25; 8:51 ************************** Why the Bible was Written Rom. 1 1. To reveal God to man ? 1 Cor. 1:21 2. To reveal Jesus to man ? Jn. 5:39 3. To reveal man to himself ? Heb. 4:12 4. To reveal sin to man ? Rom. 7:7 5. To reveal the way of righteousness ? 2 Tim. 3:16 6. To produce faith ? Jn. 20:30,31 7. To give good examples ? 1 Cor. 10:6 8. To evaluate man ? 1 cor. 4:6 9. To give comfort ? 1 Thess. 4:18; Rom. 15:4 10. To reveal how to direct the church ? 1 Tim. 3:14 From chris.gautney at gmail.com Fri Mar 27 10:55:00 2009 From: chris.gautney at gmail.com (Chris Gautney) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:55:00 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Remembering \ Walking together Message-ID: <9fd765230903270855m38cf850at4a5a878ae727bd87@mail.gmail.com> Remembering 2 Pet. 3 What Should We Remember? 1. God ? Eccl. 12:1 2. Christ ? 2 Tim. 2:8 3. The Word ? Acts 20:35 4. Christ?s Death ? Lk. 22:19 5. The poor ? Gal. 2:10 6. To do good ? Heb. 13:16 7. God?s punishment - Jude 5 8. To communicate ? 1 Tim. 6:18 9. To