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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" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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May 23, 2010
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Contents:
1) Joint Efforts Result in Conversion (Frank Himmel)
2) The Importance of Instruction (Carroll R. Sutton)
3) God Will Provide (Steve Klein)
4) News & Notes
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-1-
Joint Efforts Result in Conversion
by Frank Himmel
Naaman was captain of the Syrian army, a war hero. He was also a
leper. His story is told in 2 Kings 5.
In Naaman's day Syria made frequent border raids against Israel. During
one of those raids a young maiden was taken captive who later became
Naaman's wife's servant. She told her mistress about the prophet
Elisha, whom she was sure could cure Naaman's leprosy.
Leprosy was among the most dreaded diseases in Bible times. It begins
with brownish-red spots on the skin which turn into hardened nodules,
and in time become ulcers. As the disease progresses the muscles and
nerves are affected, resulting in deformity and paralysis. Naturally,
one with leprosy would seize any opportunity to be healed. Naaman was
no exception. Laden with extravagant gifts, he proceeded to
Elisha's house, thinking the prophet would come out to him and
ceremoniously cleanse him. Instead Elisha sent a messenger to him,
instructing him to go wash in the Jordan seven times.
Naaman reacted angrily. This procedure was illogical and humiliating.
He might have returned home without complying had not his servants
intervened. They wisely pointed out to him that he was prepared to do
some great thing to be healed, so why not do something as simple as
dipping himself in a river? Naaman reconsidered, obeyed, and his flesh
was restored to a childlike purity.
This account illustrates several important lessons and is an oft-used
sermon text. I want to make just one point from it: Naaman's cleansing
resulted from the combined efforts of several people. The Israelite
maiden initiated the process by telling him help was available through
Elisha. Then Elisha, through a messenger, told Naaman what God required
of him. Finally his own servants played the vital role of encouraging
him to obey when he resisted. Each of these contributions was equally
essential to Naaman's cleansing. Without any of them he would have gone
to his grave a leper.
Those lost in sin need to be washed in Jesus' blood. Every effort at
helping them is valuable; none should be demeaned. And there is
something you can do. Some are like Elisha, who can effectively explain
what God requires. Perhaps more of us are capable of this phase than we
realize. But if you cannot be an Elisha you can be an Israelite maiden,
telling others that cleansing is available and putting them in contact
with an Elisha. Or maybe you are a good Naaman's servant, encouraging
others to do what they know is right. Barnabas was a "Son of
Encouragement"; we need more like him. Some plant, others water. These
efforts come together, and God gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6).
Look at this lesson in action. Mary, a sister in the church here at
Palmetto, has an uncle who lives in Indiana. He is bedfast, breathing
through a trachea tube connected to an oxygen tank. She had been
talking
to him about the gospel, and he was about to decide to obey. Mary
asked me for help. I contacted a preacher in his town. He and
another brother visited uncle Carter and did some additional teaching.
Mary encouraged him further when he hesitated. And last week he was
immersed into Christ in his bathtub. Now he is working on a way to get
to the assembly and take his Catholic family with him.
Friend, every effort, whether large or small, counts. Your own
conversion was likely the culmination of combined efforts of people who
loved your soul. Now do what you can, unto God's glory.
-- Via Searching the Scriptures, June 1992, Volume 33, Number 6
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-2-
The Importance of Instruction
by Carroll R. Sutton
The author of the Book of Luke wrote to Theophilus that he "mightest
know the certainty of those things," wherein he had been instructed. We
must know God's will in order to be pleasing unto him. We can only know
the certainty of God's will by laying aside the creeds, fables,
opinions, and commandments of men and receiving instructions from what
inspired men have written. Each one of us should have a burning desire
to know the certainty of God's will. We should be anxious to receive
the teaching of God's grace. (See Titus 2:11-12.)
Who Will Receive Instruction?
Let us consider who will receive instruction. Solomon said that "the
fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise
wisdom and instruction" (Prov. 1:7). He further declared that
"when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge" (Prov.
21:11). Since fools despise instructions and the wise receive
knowledge when instructed, we should "hear instruction, and be wise,
and refuse it not." Inspiration has revealed the fact that he who
refuses instruction despises his own soul! Solomon also suggested that
"the instruction of fools is folly" (Prov. 16:22). Are you wise?
If so, you will receive instruction from God's word. If you refuse
instruction, you are indeed foolish, and will be lost eternally.
Characteristics of One Who Receives Instruction
One who receives the instruction of wisdom will fear the Lord because
Solomon said, "the fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom"
(Prov. 15:33). The person who receives instruction will not only fear
the Lord, but will love knowledge. Proverbs 12:1 says that "whoso
loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is
brutish." We should also notice that Solomon said, "he is in the
way of life that keepeth instruction, but he that refuseth reproof
erreth" (Prov. 10:17). Do you love knowledge and do you fear the Lord?
Are you in the way of life? If you do not accept the instruction of
God's word, you have no hope of eternal salvation.
Why Is Instruction Important
Instruction provided by God's grace is important because without it,
there is no salvation. It is the grace of' God that teaches, that
brings salvation (See Tit. 2:11-12). Solomon said, "He is in the way of
life that keepeth instruction." The wisdom that we receive from
instruction and knowledge is more valuable than silver and choice gold!
How do you value knowledge and wisdom? Are you willing to be instructed
in the way of the Lord? If you hunger and thirst after righteousness,
you will be filled.
Since faith cometh by hearing God's word (Rom. 10:17), one cannot have
faith without receiving instruction. Therefore one must receive
instruction in order to have faith to obey Christ and be saved!
Are you lost? If so, you can be saved today by receiving and obeying
the instruction of the Scripture. An alien sinner must believe the
gospel, repent of sins, confess faith in Christ, and be baptized in
water in order to be saved (See Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:9-10;
Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27). Have you done this? If not, you are lost!
Why not receive instruction and obey God today?
An erring child of God must repent, confess his sins, and pray in order
to receive forgiveness (See Acts 8:22-23; James 5:16; I John
1-9). Are you a child of God who is unfaithful? If so, be wise
and receive life by receiving and obeying divine instruction!
-- Via The Instructor, Vol. 1
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-3-
God Will Provide
by Steve Klein
In Genesis 22, the Lord tells Abraham to take his only son Isaac to the
land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering. Abraham
immediately set out to obey. He didn't procrastinate or
dilly-dally. The text says that "he arose early in the morning" and
took his son and wood for the burnt offering to the place God told him
(Genesis 22:3).
What a beautiful example of obedience. Abraham was being
tested. God had asked him to do something that would be extremely
difficult. For one thing, Abraham dearly loved Isaac; the thought
of offering his beloved son as a sacrifice must have troubled him
greatly. Another issue was that God had promised Abraham that he
would have many descendants through Isaac. Yet despite these
difficulties, "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten
son, of whom it was said, 'IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE
CALLED'" (Hebrews 11:17-18). When they came to the place where
Abraham was to make the sacrifice, he built an altar, laid the wood on
it, bound Isaac, laid him on the altar and "stretched out his hand and
took the knife to slay his son." But at the final moment, the
Angel of the Lord called from heaven and stopped him. The angel said,
"Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know
that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son,
from Me" (Genesis 22:12). Abraham lifted his eyes and saw a ram
caught in a thicket by its horns, and he realized that the Lord had
provided the ram as a sacrifice instead of his son. And Abraham
called the name of the place "The-LORD-Will Provide," or as the King
James translation renders it, "Jehovahjireh."
When we decide to obey, the Lord will provide a way. We may see
difficulties in obeying. We may worry about the ramifications of
our obedience. And if we allow ourselves to focus on these
things, we may hesitate to obey, or we may not obey at all. Faith
calls us to do what God said and trust Him to provide a way for
us. He has promised, "I will bring the blind by a way they did
not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make
darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I
will do for them, and not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16).
And so we sing,
I know the Lord will make a way for me.
If I trust, believe, obey
Let His holy word hold sway,
I know the Lord will make a way for me.
The Lord will provide!
-- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, February 7,
2010
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-4-
News & Notes
Correction:
In last week's bulletin, I had mistakenly mentioned April 10 as the day
my
mother (Marian Edwards) had
departed this life. Actually, it was May 10, as you might have
already realized. She had passed away in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania,
was cremated in New Cumberland, and her urn and ashes were then shipped
to
Palm Harbor, Florida, where we had a service for her on May 25 at the
Curlew Hills Memory Gardens. After the funeral sermon and prayer,
I then placed her urn next to my dad's, in the same niche that his had
been placed back in 1980. We also appreciate the hospitality of Mick and Linda Mancini (good
friends of my sister) who had me, my sister Helen, and my sister's son
Tommy
in their home for a few days. We enjoyed their company. Let
those of us who are Christians also pray that Linda's foot will soon
completely heal
from a running injury she incurred several weeks ago. In spite of
it, however, she was good to chauffeur us around, to show us many of
the changes that had taken place in that area Helen and I had grown up
in. I had moved away from there more than 32 years ago, and the
last time I was back for a brief visit was about 21 years ago, since my
mother had also moved from there around 1989. So, much had
changed. Linda and her husband helped make our recent time in
that area interesting, pleasant, and comforting, for which I am
thankful.
Let us also be praying for the family and friends of Arthur Parker who
passed away May 20. He was 86 years old. It would be
difficult to think of the Wheelersburg church of Christ in
Wheelersburg, Ohio, without thinking of Arthur. I had attended
there many times for their gospel meetings, when I lived about 25 miles
up the river in Ashland, Kentucky, and was 16 years in that area.
Arthur
was always one to greet you at the door with a friendly handshake, a
cheerful greeting, and a
warm smile. He was a gentle and caring man who will be greatly
missed, but not forgotten. And, of course, the best thing of all
about Arthur is that he was and is a Christian.
Let us also be praying for a speedy and complete recovery for David McGregor (Joe's brother) who
had quadruple by-pass surgery May 28.
And Joe McGregor had a mild
heart attack recently and had also come down with pneumonia. He
is feeling better, but not completely over the pneumonia. Let us
keep him in our prayers, too.
We also want to continue praying for Agnes
Shuff and Eloise
Craver that they will be in good health and free from pain.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can
be
lost
(Heb.
10:36-39;
Rev.
2:10;
2
Pet.
2:20-22).
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn), Denham Springs, Louisiana
70726
Sunday services: 9:15 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 4 PM (worship)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
tedwards@onemain.com
tedwards1109@gmail.com
http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go (Gospel Observer website)
http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/audioser.html (audio sermons)
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.
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