By Edd
Sterchi Toward the end of his first epistle to the
Thessalonians, Paul had these words for his Christian friends, “Now may the God
of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and
body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23). Interestingly, we have contained within
this verse the whole makeup of every human in the description “spirit, soul,
and body”. Let’s look at them in reverse order. We are a composite of... ...physical nature - The Greek word translated “body” is
“soma” and is defined as, “a body; the body of both men and animals”
(Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). ...emotional/intellectual nature - The Greek word translated
“soul” is “psuche” and is defined as “the seat of the feelings,
desires, affections, aversions” (Thayer’s). ...spiritual nature - The Greek word translated “spirit” is
“pneuma” and is defined as “the soul” (Thayer’s). It is God’s desire that we keep every
aspect of our being pure and whole. We are to be wholly holy. God has promised
to help us with this. But we must be actively seeking holiness in
our lives. I believe that the list Paul gives in the previous seven verses are
some things we can do along that line: * Think about things that bring heavenly joy (v.16) * Stay close to God through prayer (v.17) * Be thankful for all that God has given us (v.18) * Give God access to all of our lives (v.19) * Read and love God’s Word (v.20) * Keep good things in our life (v.21) * Stay away from sin (v.22) If we do these and stay faithful to God, He
will be faithful in keeping us wholly holy and blameless. “He who called you is
faithful, who will also do it” (1 Thess. 5:24). |
- Edd Sterchi preaches for
the Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/  |
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Wholly Holy
Faith Developing
By Joe Chesser In Mark 9 there is a
story about a man’s son who was brutally afflicted by an evil spirit. The man had taken his son to Jesus’
disciples, but they couldn’t do anything to help the boy. So the father pleaded with Jesus, “If you can
do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
It seems as if Jesus was somewhat shocked by this statement when he
responded, “If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes.” The man’s
reaction is what I want us to consider for a few minutes. He said, “I do believe; help me overcome my
unbelief.” Not all faith is the
same. Not everyone who believes has the
same degree of faith. Some have strong faith (like Abraham); some have weak
faith (like this man). Some have faith that never grows; some have faith that ever
grows. Some have active faith; some have dead faith. The man in the story above realized that,
though he did believe, his faith wasn’t perfected. There was still some
unbelief that had to be overcome. We all know that without faith it is
impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). This verse goes on to say that more
than just belief in the existence of God is necessary to please him; the faith
that pleases God must also develop to the point of believing that God rewards
those who earnestly seek him. Abraham,
the father of the faithful, serves as an illustration of this. In Hebrews 11:8 we are
told that Abraham had sufficient faith to begin his journey with God. When God
called him to pack up and move to some unknown place, he “obeyed and
went.” We say, “Wow! What great faith!”
And we are right. To just pack up and go
wherever God led him was an awesome demonstration of the kind of faith we need
to have. Like Abraham, it takes great faith
just to begin our journey with Jesus, to take up our cross daily and follow him
(Luke 9:23). But obedient faith is just
the beginning of our walk with God. In Hebrews 11:9-10 we
learn that Abraham also developed a long-term faith in God based on promises,
not commands. It’s one thing to have faith to obey a command; it’s another
thing to have faith that waits patiently on God to fulfill his promises, never
knowing when (or even if they will be fulfilled in your lifetime. If “obeying” faith doesn’t develop into
“staying” faith, our walk with God will be a constant struggle. And then in Hebrews
11:17-19 we see evidence of an even deeper faith, a faith willing to sacrifice
everything for God, a faith that will hold nothing back, even his one and only
son. Now we can truly say, “WOW!!” Right before our eyes we witness faith
developing from obeying a command to patiently waiting on the promise to a
willingness to sacrifice the most important thing in life. It’s great to have
enough faith to obey God’s commands.
It’s greater to develop a faith that trusts God to fulfill his future
promises when he chooses. But it’s the
greatest faith of all to be willing to sacrifice everything you have because
you trust God so much. |
- Joe Chesser preaches for
the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO. He may be contacted
at joeandareva@yahoo.com
|
God At Work
By Joe Slater Road signs used to urge
is to reduce our speed in construction zones: “Slow! Men At Work!” Political correctness
forbids such gender-specific signs nowadays, but using “slow” to describe the
men instead of our driving (several men leaning on their shovels while one actually
works) still brings a smile to our face. Usually, we can perceive
when men are working. But what about God? Yes, God works! He worked in the six creation
days, though no human was there to observe it (Genesis 1). He works in
sustaining His creation (Hebrews 1:3). Our five senses don’t perceive that
either. God works when a sinner
obeys the gospel, being “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised
with Him through faith in the working of God who raised Him from the dead”
(Colossians 2:13). That’s a spiritual operation not seen by eyes of flesh. Does God continue to
work in lives after we become Christians? “It is God who works in you, both to
will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Once again, His
working may not be outwardly obvious. Sometimes we might think
God is slow in His work. Job suffered at great length before God delivered him.
Joseph spent many years as a slave and a prisoner before God exalted him as
governor of Egypt. But be assured, God knows exactly what He is doing, and His
timing is always impeccable. He always acts in our best interest! “The Lord is
not slack concerning His promises, as some count slackness, but is
longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). |
- Joe Slater serves as
minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com |
The Challenge of Christian Growth
By
Jeff Arnette One of the things I learned to enjoy in my
life is my quiet time. During this time, usually the first hour of my day, I
read scripture, pray, and write in a journal. My goal for this is simply to
write down how I’m feeling about life, faith, and struggles, reflecting on my
actions and feelings. I will write down verbatim the prayers for the Lord’s
help in the areas I am struggling. I shouldn’t be but often I am surprised that
during that quiet time, I find comfort and wisdom for the very things that are
hurting me. I’ve come to accept that the Lord uses this time to help me reflect
on His will and Word and how that should be used during the struggles. I shouldn’t be surprised that the Lord
would encourage growth in every aspect of life. Luke 2:52 tells us that Jesus
grew in wisdom and stature. What that means is that he grew physically,
emotionally, and most important “in favor with God and man.” God in the flesh
was willing to endure struggles and even the need for growth. He grew up and
often it was the struggles that made him stronger. Consider Matthew 4:1-11. In this passage,
Jesus Christ was led into the wilderness by the Spirit for 40 days of
temptations and trials by Satan himself. In addition to that, Hebrews 5:8 says
he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. Have you ever considered why God would
allow Jesus to endure the very same temptations, struggles, and hardships that
we endure? Hebrews 2:18 says he suffered so that he could help those who
suffer, those who are being tempted. Hebrews 4:15 says that he is our great
high priest and able to sympathize with our hurts and pain because he endured
the same things. The answer to the question is simple: Jesus was allowed to
grow in this life so that he could help us through it, understand us, and
empower us to live in victory. Struggle always makes us stronger! It was
true for Jesus, and it is true for you. James 1:2-4 says that struggles and
hardships is meant to make you stronger. Don’t be ashamed that you struggle.
Don’t be ashamed that you need to mature and grow in areas of your life. Jesus
grew, learned, and struggled through this life but he didn’t allow them to
define him. His faith and connection to the Father defined him and his purpose
in life. He was able to see beyond the current struggles, hurts, and pain to
its greater purpose and we should strive to do the same. The need to grow in our faith and our
personal lives is often pushed aside with our desire to have easy lives.
Nothing worth having ever comes easy. You are worth it and its yours for the
taking. The Lord wants to bless you, open the windows of heaven, and pour out
blessings until there is no more need (Malachi 3:10), and fuel our growth. All
we have to do to enjoy this is put our faith and trust in the Lord, be open to
the potential for God’s blessings, and walk in it. The Lord expects us to desire more, to
grow, to long for the spiritual milk that will help us grow (1 Peter 2:2).
Don’t let Satan rob you of the growth and blessings that you need for success
in this life. He is a thief and a robber, and he will rob you blind if you
allow it. Be open to growth, humble
enough to face life and struggle with the desire and faith for growth. |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for
the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/ |
When Jesus Comes
By
Seth Myers Popular doctrine claims that the Lord will
return “secretly” to take away the saints. As seen on TV, a certain number of
people will simply vanish from the earth! While “the Rapture” may be exciting,
it is simply not scriptural. Here is what “the whole counsel of God”
(Acts 20:27) says will happen “when the Son of Man comes” (Matt. 25:31): 1.
When the Lord returns, the entire world will know (Matt. 25:31,32a; 1 Thess.
4:16). 2.
“All” the angels and faithful dead will be with Him (Matt. 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:7;
1 Thess. 4:14b). 3.
The bodies of the dead will be raised [to be reunited with their spirits] (Jn.
5:28,29a; 1 Thess. 4:16b; 1 Cor. 15:52; cf. Jas. 2:26a). 4.
The faithful then living will join the Lord and His saints “in the air” (1
Thess. 4:17). 5.
“Earthly” bodies will be “changed” from mortal to immortal (1 Cor. 15:51,52). 6.
Every human being since the beginning of time will stand before God in judgment
(Matt. 25:31,32; 2 Cor. 5:10a; cf. John 5:27; Rom. 14:10; Heb. 9:27). 7.
The entire physical Creation will be utterly and permanently destroyed (2 Pet.
3:10-12). 8.
Jesus will “deliver the kingdom,” which He had received and established after
His resurrection/ascension, over to the Father (1 Cor. 15:24; cf. Acts 2:30,31a;
Dan. 2:44). 9.
Each person will be consigned to one of two eternal destinations—chosen for
themselves while “in the body” (Matt. 25:33,41,46; John 5:29; 2 Thess. 1:7-9;
cf. 2 Cor. 5:10b). 10.
This is called “the last day” (John 5:39,40,44,54; 12:48) and “the end” (1 Cor.
15:24a). |
- Seth Myers preaches for
the Highway Church of Christ in Sullivan, IL. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: https://hwycoc.com/ |
Still Much for Which to Be Thankful
By
David R. Ferguson David wrote in Psalm 8:1, “O Lord our Lord,
how excellent is Thy name in all the Earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the
heavens.” We are fast approaching our national
holiday called Thanksgiving, and even though we are finding ourselves living in
a time in which rampant evil seems to run amok, a time similar to that of the
Prophet Isaiah who quotes the Lord as saying in Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call
evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for
darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter,” we still have
much for which we can give thanks. We still have our Lord! We still have a
loving Father Who was willing to send His one and only begotten Son to die in
our place for our sins. We still have Jesus Christ, the very Living
Word of God, Who submitted Himself to do His Father’s will in all things and He
suffered Himself to die in our place. And it wasn’t just any death, it was a terribly
painful and humiliating death in which He was found nailed to a Cross as if He
was a common criminal, suspended between Heaven and Earth, with a robber at
each side. We should never let circumstances dictate
whether or not we will be joyful and give thanks to the Lord. Our Lord is
faithful. And He will keep the promises He has given to us, promises that only
belong to those who are one of His own. Only those who are in Christ, putting
on His robes at baptism (Galatians 3:27), are given the promise of the complete
forgiveness of our sins. Only those who have surrendered their own wills to
those of the Father above will be granted eternal life. Only those who come to
the Lord in obedient, saving faith will get to hear the words, “Well done, good
and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew
25:21). Only those who are of His fold are given the privilege of using the
term of endearment, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15), and only they are allowed to
approach the |
- David R. Ferguson
preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH. He may be
contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com |
Give Thanks
By
Clifton Angel Solomon wrote, “To every thing there is a
season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). He then
proceeded to illustrate this statement with very practical and common
occurrences that are cyclical in the life of every human being (see Eccl.
3:2–8). As he poetically notes that there is “A time to be born, and a time to
die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted” and so on,
NEVER does he say: “A time to be unthankful.” In fact ingratitude can be found
at the heart of every sin and certainly is one of man’s greatest problems. Long ago, a man wrote about the ingratitude
of people in his past. These were not people that he knew personally, but ones
that lived long before him. It is interesting that we can read about the
results of ingratitude on mankind thousands of years ago and take note of the
ever-applicable consequences that remain even today. He wrote: When
they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became
vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the
incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and
four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies
between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and
served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For
this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did
change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the
men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward
another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in
themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did
not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate
mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all
unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of
envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God,
despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit
such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in
them that do them. These are the words of Paul at Romans
1:21–32. If any of these apply to us, our conclusion must be that we need to
reassess our gratitude toward God. Ingratitude ignored leads to immoral societies
and iniquitous souls. Let us conclude with the words of Paul to the church at
Thessalonica: “In
everything, give thanks” (1Thessalonians 5:18). |
- Clifton Angel preaches
for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted
through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/ |
A Child Is Born
By Al
Behel “For to us a child is born, to us a son is
given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be
called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6) So,
what is so different about this child?
Countless children are born around the world each day. Why is this child unique? Why do millions of people bow before
Him? Why does the world pause to
remember His birth? Because,
this child is different. He is no
ordinary infant and His birth was no ordinary birth. He is different because God determined that
His birth would be so profoundly different from all other births that he
announced it more than 700 years in advance.
It was different because His mother was still a virgin, and His father
was God Himself. God entrusted His
infant Son to a young woman’s womb with the confidence that she would
faithfully honor this sacred trust. Born
in a stable, among ordinary farm animals, this child’s birth was announced by angels
singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, Peace, goodwill among
men.” That is why He came. That is what He was about. And that is still His mission for us...to
glorify God in the highest, and bring peace and goodwill to men. His path was not to a stable, but to a
cross. The ultimate goal was to die for
a lost world. His ultimate victory was
to be raised from death and return to the Father who sent Him. By doing so, He brought life to all who
would follow Him to the cross. After
more than two thousand years, that cross still stands as the center piece of
human history…the pivotal point of eternity.
No wonder they called Him, “Everlasting Father”, for He truly is the
Father of Eternity. Let us bow before
Him and honor His birth by accepting His cross. |
- Al Behel served the Great
Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN, for many years prior to
this death in April 2022. The congregation may be contacted through their
website - https://gsmchurchofchrist.com/ |
A New Start
By Ron Thomas As one enters a
marriage, both parties begin a new life. In John 2, the marriage in Cana was
exactly that, a new life for the male and female becoming a husband and wife,
family, a home. A problem arose, however, that generated in Mary quickly
turning and looking to her Son for relief. It was customary for the wedding
host to provide for their guests. If there was a failing in this area, not only
was there a social embarrassment, but, according to some, legal action could
have been taken. Imagine Mary’s concern over this. Turning to her Son, she
enlists His help. Jesus’ initial
response was not a reluctance or denial on His part, but a teaching point to
His mother. Perhaps, at His age of 30, He wanted her to understand that He now
must focus on His mission of teaching; He will help but let her be reminded
about that which she already knew. He shall be great, and shall be called the
Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his
father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his
kingdom there shall be no end (Luke 1:32-33, ASV). With Jesus’
turning water into wine, He turned a festive marriage occasion from a sorrowful
beginning to a fresh start. There is a great lesson in this: When people marry,
as a family unit, they start anew. The grow together in maturity and in the
size of the family. As they do this, they should also give attention to their
destiny. Where is the family going, and how will it get there? Those who turn
from the Lord think they know where they are going. When they arrive, they
quickly realize what they thought was not their desire. On the other hand,
those who start with Jesus, know where they are going, how to get there, and
are sure of their desired destination. Their marriage and family is long
lasting. When the years come and go, when the body with its tight skin and no
blemishes begins to be less tight and with a few more scars, even beyond the
grey hairs, wrinkly skin, and bent-over postures with time, those who started
with Jesus always have a fresh and new start. |
-- Ron Thomas, beginning in January 2023, Ron
will be preaching for the Church of Christ at Rio Grande in Bidwell, OH. He may
be contacted at etsop95@gmail.com |
Black Friday
By Bill
Brandstatter I have been seeing ads recently for “Black
Friday.” This used to be the day after Thanksgiving when retailers lure
customers with all kinds of special incentives. Now “Black Friday” comes
earlier and lasts longer. People line up to get the special “door buster”
savings. They will flock to stores and spend large amounts of money just to take
part in the euphoria of “Black Friday.” A long time ago there was a “Black Friday”
that was even more significant. In Mark’s gospel account we read: “Now when the
sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth
hour.” (Mk. 15:33) For three hours, the earth was dark. This was a dark day
because Jesus was being crucified. We know it was Friday because Mark adds “Now
when evening had come because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day
before the Sabbath...” (Mk. 15:42) Since the Sabbath fell on Saturday, we know
this dark day was on a Friday. What made this “Black Friday” so special?
It was special because of the price that was paid. Jesus paid the price for the
sins of all mankind. Peter described it this way: “Who Himself bore our sins in
His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sin, might live for
righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Pet. 2:24) There was
another special purchase made on this day. Paul told the elders at Ephesus
about this purchase. He said, “Shepherd the church of God which He purchased
with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28) Our salvation and the church of our Lord are worth
more than all of Solomon’s riches. It was special too, because of the people
who were there. The crowd of people who wanted Him crucified was there. (Mk.
15:13) Simon the Cyrenian was there. (Mk. 15:21) The soldiers who led Him away
to the cross were standing there mocking Him. (Mk. 15:16) The chief priests
were mocking Him also. (Mk. 15:31) The reason Jesus died was for those that were
there and for those who were not there. Jesus stated in Luke 23:34, “Father,
forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” He was willing to forgive
them while they were crucifying Him. Have you participated in the events of the
“Black Friday” of Jesus’ life? Are you saved by His blood? (Matt. 26:28; Rev.
1:5) Have you put Him on in baptism and taken part in all that His death
purchased? (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27) What did or does that “Black Friday” mean to
you? |
- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church
of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's
website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/ |
Sunday, December 11, 2022
A Lamp unto My Feet
By David
R. Ferguson David wrote in Psalm 119:105-112, “Thy word
is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform
it, that I will keep Thy righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much: quicken
me, O Lord, according unto Thy word. Accept, I beseech Thee, the freewill
offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Thy judgments. My soul is continually
in my hand: yet do I not forget Thy law. The wicked have laid a snare for me:
yet I erred not from Thy precepts. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage
for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined mine heart to
perform Thy statutes alway, even unto the end.” You probably know the following
verse well, but read it aloud as though you were hearing it for the first time.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (verse 105).
What lessons can we learn from that statement? The world is dark. It’s in a constant state
of moral and intellectual darkness. We have more education today and less
wisdom, much as Paul was writing about the state of Corinth in the first
chapter of his first epistle to them. People make foolish decisions. The world
is also dark spiritually. Satan has numbed people's minds. They don't want to
see the light of the glory of God in Jesus Christ, Who is the light of the
world (John 8:12) and the Word of God incarnate in the flesh (John 1:8). The way is definite. How do we make it
through this dark world? God has marked out a definite path for each one of us,
and we don't have to be afraid of where it leads. It’s a path of life, blessing
and righteousness. Our walk is deliberate. As we take each
step, we see more of what God has for us. Sometimes I would like to have a
spotlight that shines for miles down the road. But God says, "You're going
to learn to walk by faith. You're going to learn to walk by patience, by My
promise.“ |
- David R. Ferguson
preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH. He may be
contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com |
Why Does God Allow Trials?
By Joe Slater Trials, especially
severe ones, tempt us to doubt God. “If God exists, and if He really is good,
then why does He permit pain and suffering?” But does God’s goodness require
that our lives be a bed of rose petals? Through Moses the Lord
told His people Israel, “You shall remember that the Lord your God led you all
the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and to test you, to
know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So
He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not
know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live
by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the
Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). The Israelites needed to
suffer hunger to know the source of their blessings and to learn that
satisfying one’s physical hunger isn’t the main purpose of life! Living by God’s
word surpasses filling the stomach with food. What kind of parents would just
give their children everything they want with no conditions or expectations? Such children would
become soft, flabby, lazy, self-centered, and entitled. (Just look around!
We’re reaping a bitter harvest!) Children need to be tested, challenged, and
made to endure difficulty so they mature into responsible, realistic adults. It’s no different with
God’s children. Though we may not enjoy it, we benefit from experiencing
trials. Think of Joseph in Egypt; think of Daniel and his friends in Babylon.
Most of all, think Jesus, “the captain of (our) salvation,” who was made
“perfect (complete) through suffering” (Hebrews 2:10). Let us learn to see
God’s hand in trials! |
- Joe Slater serves as
minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com |
Hungering for God
By Joe Chesser Probably when you read
the title of this article you thought of Jesus’ words, “Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew
5.6). Maybe you also thought of the psalm, “As a deer pants for the flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God”
(Psalm 42.1-2). Both of these verses describe someone desperate for food and
water. Even if you have never been frantic for food or water, you can still
understand what this means. It is so easy, so common
to get caught up in the things of life that have little or nothing to do with
our personal hunger for God, and especially panting for God: things like jobs,
sports, politics, health, housework, vacations, etc. Even as a preacher it is
very easy to get so focused on lesson preparation to teach others, or spending
time on church activities, or spending time with my family that I fail to
remember to feed my own soul. There are some very
telling signs of a lack of hungering for God: PRAYER. Mike Ireland
wrote: “Perhaps the reason we are not better with prayer is not because we are
too busy or we don’t know what to say. Rather, it is that we do not hunger for
God, we do not long for Him as He longs for us. What is on God’s heart is not
on ours; what matters to Him is not so important to us ... Prayer is a
reflection of what we value ... Prayer is a reflection of who we are.” (Living in His Grace, page 305). SIN. It doesn’t matter
what the sin is (lust, lying, jealousy etc.), struggling with sin indicates a
failure at hungering for a closeness with God. David recognized that his sin
with Bathsheba separated him from God, and it tore his heart apart. He wrote,
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit with me. Cast me
not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm
51.10-11). Hungering for the righteousness of God will help us resist sin like
nothing else will. FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD’S PEOPLE. Worshiping God together is God’s idea (Hebrews 10.25). Communing together is God’s idea, and failing to do so makes us spiritually weak (1 Corinthians 11.21-34). Singing to one another is God’s idea to encourage each other as well as to draw is closer to Him (Ephesians 5.19). Praying together, working together, studying together, they all help us satisfy our hunger for God. It is much more difficult to do this all by yourself. Panting for God creates a thirst to be with Him (Psalm 42.1-2), and it also creates a longing for the people of God (1 Thessalonians 3.6). That’s God’s idea to help us be more like Him. BIBLE STUDY. There is a
direct correlation between hungering for God and a hunger for more knowledge of
God. A hungry body craves to be fed. A dying body loses it desire for food.
Peter said the same thing is true spiritually (1 Peter 2.2). Not having a
desire to study the Scriptures is an indication of a dying soul. What did you think about
yourself as you read these words? |
- Joe Chesser preaches for
the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO. He may be contacted
at joeandareva@yahoo.com |
“Never Say Never!”
By Jeff
Arnette How many times have you heard that
sentiment? I have often tried to follow those wise words but often I have
caught myself saying those dreaded words. It never fails that eventually I will
carelessly say it and it never fails, I almost immediately regret it. I have
often wondered why we use such ideas and why we inevitably regret doing so.
Perhaps, it has something to do with the fact that “never” carries such huge
implications. To use the word “never” you have to be
positive about what you know and positive about every circumstance under
consideration. This requires a level of knowledge we simply can’t possess. We
are not omniscient and there will always be factors we hadn’t considered or
anticipated. Some things that are simply beyond our ability to know. When I
consider the phrase “Never say never” I can’t help but think of the apostle
Peter. Three times he uses the word “never” and all three times he was proven
wrong. The first time happens in Matt. 16:21-23.
In this section, Jesus is telling the disciples that he is going to Jerusalem,
will suffer many things, be killed, and raised again on the third day. Peter,
like the others, is shocked and confused by this revelation. In response, he
pulls Jesus aside and expresses his disapproval. Then comes the always
dangerous words, “this will never happen to you Lord.” Peter is in essence
saying, “it can’t happen to you” while also saying “I won’t let it happen.” The second time is found in John 13:8,
where Jesus is washing the feet of the disciples. Jesus intends to teach them a
lesson about humility and service to others, but Peter doesn’t understand this
yet. When Jesus gets to Peter, he refuses to allow Jesus, his Lord and teacher,
to wash his feet. For Peter, Jesus is far too important to allow him to wash
his dirty, stinky feet. That’s the lowly work of servants not the Messiah. He
literally says, “you shall never wash my feet!” The third time is found in Matt. 26:33.
Here Jesus is telling them, on the night of his betrayal, that they would all
fall away from him on this night. Peter again says those dreaded words, “I will
never fall away!” In each instance Peter didn’t know
everything he assumed he knew, and the words of Jesus proved to be true. What
can we learn from this? First, we learn to Never use the words “never.” Second,
and more important, we should learn that Jesus is always right. Even when it
seems to go against everything we think and feel, Jesus is always right. Third,
we should learn that Jesus is the only one who can use the word “never” and it
be correct. In Heb. 13:5 Jesus says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” This is a promise you can depend on because
Jesus said so! He will never you or forsake you. |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for
the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/ |
Did Jesus Call Her a Dog?
By Clifton
Angel Matthew and Mark recorded the details of an
interesting encounter Jesus had with a Gentile woman (cf. Matthew 15:21–28;
Mark 7:24–30). Mark tells us this Syrian woman from Phoenicia approached Jesus
while He was attempting to have a private meeting with His disciples. She
"fell at his feet" (Mark 7:25) and "besought him that he would
cast forth the demon out of her daughter” (Mark 7:26). Matthew informs us that Jesus' initial
response toward the woman was that of silence (Matthew 15:23). Silence is a
tremendous test of our faith! We no longer need the audible voice of God to
live upon the earth (cf. Hebrews 1:1–3); yet, that does not stop us from longing
for it. We pray to Him, fervently seek Him, and grow in His Word, and still, we
long to audibly hear Him. But, we trust Him. We believe Him. In reality, He is
not being silent. He continues to broadcast His Word through His servants. He
continues to advertise His power through His creation. He continues to speak to
our hearts through His providence and His timely answers to the prayers that are
according to His will (cf. 1 John 5:14; 1 Peter 3:12; Romans 8:26–27, 34). The
Gentile woman did not stop seeking the help of Jesus, even in the midst of the
silence. Neither should we. She continued, "saying, Lord, help
me" (Matthew 15:25). We are then given Jesus' second response, which might
be perceived as a simple illustration or as an insult. It is a simple
illustration that we do not take food from our children (preventing their
adequate nourishment) and give it to the dogs. The dogs must wait until the children
have been adequately fed. However, there may be a hint of irony with the
illustration. Jesus' primary mission was to the Jews. The same gospel would be
delivered to the Gentiles at a later time. In the eyes of the Jews, they were God’s
“children” and the Gentiles were “dogs.” Whether it was an illustration of
waiting or an insult with irony, Jesus' second response was another test of the
Gentile's woman's faith. More than a test of faith, it is a
revelation of her faith to Jesus' disciples. She did not argue with Jesus. She
seemingly did not become upset with Jesus. She did not turn away from Him in disappointment.
Rather, she replied, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which
fall from their masters' table" (Matthew 15:27). What a tremendous faith!
She in essence said that she would be satisfied being a "dog" as long
as she got to eat the crumbs from the table of Jesus. His third response was
that of strength. "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as
thou wilt" (Matthew 15:28). |
- Clifton Angel preaches
for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted
through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/ |
Monday, December 5, 2022
A Prayer for Growth (Eph. 3:14-19)
By Jeff Arnette I am certain that you, like myself, are
praying for the growth of the Lord’s church here and throughout the world.
Regularly, I am praying for growth especially in the ways that the Lord wants
us to grow but what is that. True growth is so much more than simply metrics
like attendance numbers or contribution amounts. Real growth is growing in
grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). It is growing in our understanding of and
imitation of Jesus (Eph. 4:15-16) in our daily lives. We tend to think that growth is something
the preacher does for the church but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The preacher can be a catalyst, but real church growth begins in you and then
extends to the whole church. In
Ephesians 3:14-19, the apostle Paul prayed for the growth of the Ephesian
Christians. His prayer reveals much about true Christian growth. I want to
challenge you to adopt Paul’s view on true growth and to pray every day for the
growth of this church. Notice that Paul prays for growth in four primary areas. First in verse 16, he prays for them to be
strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit in their soul. This power is
the power of the Holy Spirit living and working within each one of us and enabling
with a power that is like dynamite inside us. We need to learn to depend on and
trust in this power of God that is at our disposal. Secondly in verse 17, I want you to notice
that he prayed that Christ would dwell in their hearts. Paul knew that the
Ephesians needed to not only know that Christ was within them but also being
guided by it. He was praying that Christ would be their center, that he would
be the focus of all that they did in this life. We too need to learn to focus
on Christ and let him be the center of our life, the focal point of all that we
do. Third in verses 18-19, Paul prayed that
they would be able to comprehend the truest expression of Christ love for them.
He said that he needed them to be able to understand what that really looked
like, what it felt like to be loved by Jesus. To understand the love of Christ
for ourselves and others will, or at least it should change your life. It was
what changed Paul and he knew that it would do the same for us (Acts 9). We to
need to focus on and learn to comprehend the truest expression of Christ love
for us and others. Lastly in verse 19, Paul prayed that they
would be filled with the fullness of God. He knew that if they were filled up
with God and the things of God true growth would happen. Church, the same is
true for us too. If we will fill our lives, minds, and hearts with the things
of God we will grow in amazing and powerful ways. |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for
the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/ |
Our Greatest Privilege
By Al Behel “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1) The disciples of Jesus
had listened to his sermons, but never asked, “Teach us to preach.” They had
observed his powerful miracles, but never said, “Lord, teach us to do
miracles.” The one thing they asked for Him to teach them was how to pray.
Knowing how to pray effectively is far more desirable than knowing how to
preach a powerful sermon. Moving heaven is much greater than moving men on
earth. Of course, there are
many desirable gifts or privileges, but none surpasses the privilege of prayer.
We can train men to preach moving sermons, but powerful praying can only come
out of hearts that have been touched by the Master. More is accomplished
through prayer than through sermons for without prayer sermons are empty and
ineffective. Obviously, the disciples
had witnessed Jesus on His knees. They had seen the hand of God moved through
His prayers. No one had prayed like Him. No one had talked with the Father the
way Jesus did. They stood in awe as they listened to Him pray and they wanted
to pray like Jesus prayed. Only Jesus could teach them to pray like that. I’ve heard many moving
prayers. Some were very short but powerful. A little boy in New York prayed,
“God, I thank you for making me a human being and not a dog!” Some of the old
saints knew how to pray. The key? They knew they were really talking to God and
that God was listening. Prayer is every believer’s privilege. Not
everyone is called to become preachers, or elders, or teachers, but everyone is
called to pray. Later, Jesus would say, “Men ought always to pray and not to
lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Praying opens the doors of heaven and moves the hand
of God. Unfortunately, many
Christians do not avail themselves of this privilege. Instead, there is an
expectation that life moves on its own, most days are reasonably comfortable,
and we maintain good health. We forget that prayer is not solely about us. It
is primary about communing with our heavenly Father. It is about advancing His
kingdom in a world of darkness. |
- Al Behel served the Great
Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN, for many years prior to
this death in April 2022. The congregation may be contacted through their
website - https://gsmchurchofchrist.com/ |
Up from the Miry Clay
By David Sargent Keith Wishum reports: Tuesday,
October 26, 1999 was no day at the beach for 28 year-old Kenny Beach of
Brunswick, Georgia. Beach, whose house overlooks a marsh, went out in a small boat
to search for missing parts of his floating dock. When he stepped from the boat
to retrieve an errant piece, he sank immediately up to his waist in the muck. Beach quickly discovered
that struggling to free himself only made matters worse as he was sucked deeper
into the soft mud. Soon, he was buried up to his chest. The tide was coming in. Deciding to be still and
call for help, Beach began to shout. He continued to sink deeper. The tide
continued to rise. The sun disappeared and darkness settled, leaving Beach
cold, alone, and afraid as the cold dark water rose, first to his neck, then to
his face. Continuing to call for help, Beach panicked, knowing that he would
soon drown. As the murky water
finally closed over Beach's nose, fire department rescuers James Williams and
Craig Renshaw heard a gurgle. Swinging their rowboat toward the sound, they
spotted Beach and quickly began to pull him from the muck which would have
claimed his life. Kenny Beach’s plight
while stuck in the mire resembles our condition in our sins… we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and
destined for death (Romans 6:23). We
cannot free ourselves from the mire of sin (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are totally dependent upon someone else to
come to our rescue. God, because of His
great love for us, sent His Son Jesus to our rescue (Romans 5:8). He came to this world as a Man to identify
with us and to die for us – the perfect Sacrifice to pay the debt for our sins
(2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). Jesus will lift from the
mire of sin those who accept His offer of salvation and eternal life by placing
their faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Then those who continue to cling to Him
through their trusting obedience will continually be cleansed by His blood (1
John 1:7). In a song entitled
“Deeper and Deeper,” Oswald J. Smith ponders the salvation that Christ offers: Into the heart of
Jesus Deeper and deeper
I go, Seeking to know
the reason Why He should
love me so, Why He should
stoop to lift me Up from the miry
clay, Saving my soul,
making me whole, Though I had
wandered away. The reason that God desires to lift us up from the miry clay is
because He loves us. The reason why we should
accept His offer on His terms is because Jesus is our only Hope! |
- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood
in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled
"Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource
contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org |
The Fortune of Family
By Edd Sterchi One of the most valuable things that God
has given us is the concept of the family. Think about it – before God brought
forth the societal governmental system, He gave the family. Before God
established His church on the earth, He consecrated the family. After creating the heavens and the earth,
God placed a family there (Gen. 1:27-28;
2:21-25). After God cleansed the earth through the global flood, He began anew
with a family (Gen. 6:17-18.). It is through a family that God gave His promise
of a Savior and through whom all families on earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-5). The family as God would have it is the
moral structure of any successful society. The family is the golden thread that
binds a particular group of people to their past, present, and future. The
family is where hurts are best healed, victories are best shared, and
forgiveness is easiest displayed. The family is the place where love is most at
home. Without a doubt, God knew what He was doing when He created the family. When Paul through inspiration wanted to
show Christ’s love for the church and her relationship to Him, he did in family
type language (Eph. 5:22-33). And after that, Paul naturally transitioned into
a discussion of parents and children and their responsibilities to one another
as a family (Eph. 6:1-4). After looking at all of this Biblical
information, we can only come to one conclusion: family is important. Why else
would God have connected such vital aspects of His will to the family? Because
the family (following the will of God) is the core unit of success and
happiness. Knowing this, it behooves each of us to
make our family relationships the best that they can be. We each need to do our
part to make our families better and stronger. Only good things will come from
this effort. |
- Edd Sterchi preaches for
the Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/ |
Which Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?
By Gerald
Cowan You’ve heard that old riddle, haven’t you?
How do you answer it? Now here is another question for you: Which comes first,
faith, fact, or feeling? There is a logical order which makes faith practical
and relevant. To disregard this order will reduce faith to foolishness. The
logical order is fact, faith, and feeling. Fact must come first. Faith is
knowledge and acceptance of the facts. Feeling follows faith. Feeling is the
effect or result of faith in the facts. It is easy to get it turned wrong, and many
do. Some put feelings first. Their faith and the whole order of their lives are
pinned to their feelings. “If it feels right it must be right.” Consequently
they are at the mercy of their own feelings. When they feel low, depressed, and
discouraged it puts their faith in a tailspin. Nagging doubts sweep over them,
doubts about God, their own souls, and their chances for salvation. But when
they are elated, happy, and in good spirits the doubts disappear and they think
that they really believe – faith is riding high! That ought to be proof enough
that you cannot depend on your own feelings. Your feelings about God and His
Christ may change, but God himself does not change (Mal. 3:6). Jesus Christ is
the same, yesterday, today, and forever Heb. 13:8). Don’t believe your feelings. Believe God!
Trust Him to bring to pass what He has said (Ps. 37:5). Some put faith first. But how can you have
faith without an object of faith, something to believe or trust in? You cannot
just have faith in faith. Can you believe in believing, trust in trusting, have
confidence in confidence? All of that is nonsense. Faith must rest upon
something or someone. The trustworthiness of faith depends on the
trustworthiness of its object. You cannot make a thing true just by believing
in it. That is delusion. If a thing is not true, faith will not change it into
truth. If a thing is true, lack of faith will not change it to untruth. See
Rom.3:3-4). The only dependable approach is to put the
facts first. Find the truth and pin your faith to it (John 8:31). Find what is
dependable, trustworthy and true, then accept it because it is all these
things. Faith is nothing more that accepting and applying the truth, and it
comes only by investigation of the facts. The Christian knows that faith comes
by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17, John 17:17). Faith is centered in the
fact of Jesus Christ, that One who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John
14:6). Once you align your faith with the facts you can be assured that the
proper feelings will follow (read carefully Col. 1:3-6). What feelings? Well,
what feelings would you expect to come if you knew you had found and accepted
truth, and that your faith and hope were founded upon the righteousness of
Jesus Christ? Postscript: Still wondering about the
chicken and egg? Here’s the answer: Logically two chickens came first –
necessarily male and female – who were able to reproduce by means of a
fertilized egg. If the egg came first, all it could produce is a helpless chick
that would not survive or be able to reproduce itself. God’s word makes it
clear that this is what happened – not only with chickens but with all living
things. The adult forms were created whole, male and female, with everything
needed for reproducing themselves (Genesis, chapters one and two). |
- Gerald Cowan, a longtime
preacher and missionary, is retired from full-time pulpit preaching. Gerald
publishes an e-mail newsletter entitled GERALD COWAN’S PERSONAL PERIODICAL
WRITINGS. He is available for Gospel Meetings and he may be contacted at Geraldcowan1931@aol.com |
Sunday, November 20, 2022
Salvation Matters
By Edd Sterchi “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked
for, but that we may receive a full reward.” (2 John 8) In 2 John 8, the “full
reward” of salvation forevermore is referenced. It is a beautiful concept in
that when we receive our heavenly reward, nothing will be held back! It will be
full and perfect. But in this great text, it is very important for us to note
four important points concerning this salvation: “Look to yourselves...”
– This is a great reminder that salvation is an individual matter. None of us
will be saved based upon what another does or does not do (excepting Jesus
Christ, of course). We must make sure that we have followed God’s will for our
lives. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.
Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you
are disqualified.” (2 Cor. 13:5, see also Rom. 14:12). “...that we do not lose
those things...” – It is important to also remember that salvation can be
forfeited. If we turn our backs on Christ after being converted to Him, then we
will be just as lost as if we had never met Him. “You have become estranged
from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from
grace.” (Gal. 5:4, see also Heb. 2:1). “...we worked for...”
–Another thing about attaining salvation is that salvation takes activity on
our part. Of course, we could never earn our salvation, but we still must meet
the gospel conditions set forth. And that does take obedience on our part.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not a sin my presence only,
but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling;” (Phil. 2:12, see also Matt. 25:21). “...but that we may
receive a full reward.” – Finally, let’s note this: salvation must be accepted.
God has offered salvation to all through the sacrifice of His Son. But we must
still receive it and take it into our hearts and lives. “Receiving the end of
your faith – the salvation of your souls.” (1 Pet. 1:9, see also Jas. 1:21). Do you have assurance of
the “full reward” offered by God? I can guarantee you, you will not want to
miss out on any of it. |
- Edd Sterchi preaches for the
Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted through
the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/ |
When God Feels Distant
By
Jeff Arnette We’ve all been there at some point in our
journey. One day everything is great and the next, we find ourselves feeling
lost and distant from God. There can be many reasons for feeling like this but
most often, it is a result of some struggle we are facing in life. Sometimes it
isn`t that God has moved away from us but that we’ve moved away from Him and
sometimes it is simply a matter of how we’re feeling in the midst of the
struggle. No matter the reason or if the distance is real we should all want to
be closer to the Lord. Feeling closer to the Lord gives us comfort when life
gets crazy, when we`re struggling with some sin in our life, or when we simply
need more strength. Asaph, in Psalm 77, gives us some insight
into prayer and needing to be closer to the Lord. He cries out to the Lord and
He listens to him. Asaph knew that the only way to get through the trouble he
was dealing with was to get closer to the Lord. First, we learn from Asaph that when God
feels distant we should remember all the good things God has done for us. We
need to consider all the things God had done for us and for His people. By remembering
God’s gracious acts it gets us to stop focusing on ourselves and start focusing
on Him. Secondly, we learn from Asaph the
importance of spending time in God’s house with the people of God. He knew that
the best way to feel closer to the Lord was to get closer to the people of God. Time spent in worship and assembling with
His people will draw us closer to each other and to our God. It is in the
services of the church that we learn, remember his gracious acts, and grow
through study with others. If you are feeling distant from the Lord just
remember that he will always be near his people and his people will always be
together especially on Sundays & Wednesdays. Make sure you’re there every
time the doors are open and it will be a great blessings for you and for the
church. Relationships require effort and God is no
exception. Even before you feel like doing it, just keep doing it, and
eventually you will feel like being there. Here is a truth that is often hard
for us to learn: feelings follow actions, not the other way around. In the same
way that you exercise even before you feel like doing it, spending time with
the Lord and His people will eventually feel good if you keep doing it. Just
because you don’t feel like doing something doesn’t mean you will not. |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for
the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/ |