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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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August 8, 2010
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Contents:
1) Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-7) (David Phillips)
2) A Prepared Heart (Glenn Melton)
3) Be Careful What You Say (Greg Gwin)
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-1-
Trust in the Lord
Proverbs 3:5-7
by David Phillips
God knew what He was doing when He created the heavens and the earth in
six days (Ps. 19:1-6).
God knew what He was doing when He put Adam and Eve in the garden and
also placed in the midst of the garden the tree of life along with the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:8-9; 15-17).
God knew what He was doing, after man first sinned, when He promised
the coming of One who would deal a fatal blow to that lying serpent who
deceived the woman (Gen. 3:15).
God knew what He was doing when He destroyed the whole world by flood
because of wickedness, while sparing eight souls in the ark (2 Pet.
3:5-7).
God knew what He was doing when He chose one family from among all the
families of the earth to be His special people and through whom the
Christ would come (Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:16).
God knew what He was doing when He established a covenant with that
people; a law which taught men the true nature of sin as contrasted
with the glory of God's righteousness, and which taught us of our
absolute need for the grace of God because of our sins (Gal. 3:19, 22-
25).
God knew what He was doing when He chose a betrothed virgin of humble
means to give birth to the Son of God, the Savior of the world and King
over all (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38).
God knew what He was doing when He sent John the baptizer, "the voice
of one crying in the wilderness," to prepare the way of the Lord (Matt.
3:1-3).
God knew what He was doing when He allowed the Christ to suffer at the
hands of godless men and to face a horrible death on the cross in order
to provide the means of salvation for the world (1 Cor. 1:18-25).
We know that God knew what He was doing because He raised His only
begotten Son from the dead on the third day, giving Him a name that is
above every name to reign as King eternal (Phil. 2:9-11). Through that
mighty work God bound Satan, greatly limiting his power, and provided
freedom for all those who would escape the condemnation and darkness
that is in the world (Luke 11:21-23; Eph. 2:1-7).
God knew what He was doing when He sent the apostles into all the world
to proclaim the glorious gospel, and the Holy Spirit to reveal all
truth and to confirm, by the signs, wonders and miracles that were
done, the word that was preached (John 16:12- 15; Heb. 2:1-4).
God knew what He was doing when He set up His church in such a way to
simultaneously glorify Him, cause the body of Christ to grow, and
proclaim the gospel to lost souls all over the world, all through the
diligent working of its members, guided by His inspired word.
God knew what He was doing when He purposed that the apostles and
prophets should put into writing His inspired word -- the faith which
was delivered one time for all time -- for men in every generation to
read, understand and believe (Eph. 3:3-5; 1 Tim. 2:3,4).
God knew what He was doing when He commanded that the inspired
Scriptures be copied and shared between the churches (Col. 4:16).
God knew what He was doing when He, being aware of the tendency of men
to idolize and worship relics of bygone ages, allowed the original New
Testament manuscripts written by the apostles to be lost to men while
preserving their content through the copies that were made (Num.
21:4ff.; 2 Kings 18:4).
From the beginning God has always known what He has been doing. We mere
mortals cannot hope to comprehend the depth of His wisdom, for "`For My
thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says 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
55:8,9).
Who is man to question what God has done or has allowed to happen and
why? "For shall the thing made say of him who made it, `He did not make
me'? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, `He has no
understanding'?" (Isa. 29:16).
When all is said and done and the heavens and earth are rolled up like
a scroll (Isa. 34:4), then all will see that the way God chose to do
things was in every way the best way. In that day there will be two
groups of people: There will be those who, while living on earth,
recognized that God's ways are in every way perfect -- these will have
humbly trusted His wisdom and power and submitted to His commands. Then
there will be those who, also while living on the earth, will not have
trusted in the Lord -- these will have questioned His ways and sought
alternatives to His divine purpose. Truly, these will experience
the full significance of Proverbs 16:25.
Are you seeking answers to life's questions? Do you desire knowledge
and wisdom? Do you want to learn contentment and the means of
worthwhile gain? Then here is the answer to your every question: "Trust
in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct
your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart
from evil" (Proverbs 3:5-7).
God knows what He is doing! Trust Him!
-- Via In Newness of Life, January 24, 2010
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-2-
A Prepared Heart
by Glenn Melton
"Ezra the son of Seraiah . . . the son of Aaron the chief priest . . .
went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses . .
. for Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to
do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments" (Ezra 1:1-10).
"So king Rehoboam . . . did evil, because he prepared not his heart to
seek the Lord" (II Chronicles 12:13,14). What a contrast between Ezra
and Rehoboam. Ezra was helpful in teaching Israel the law; Rehoboam was
instrumental in the cause of division among the tribes. What a
difference preparation of the heart made. May we suggest some
things that may have contributed to the preparation of Ezra's heart?
(1) The influence of godly parents. Ezra's father was a priest and
possibly one who taught the law. The influence of such a man could tend
to lead his children to God. Blessed are the children of the righteous.
(2) Seeing the consequences of disobedience. Ezra had been in captivity
and saw firsthand the results of disobedience. This could well have had
a part in helping him to see how much better it is to please God.
(3) Moral uprightness. Consider what it did for Joseph, David, and
Esther. "Remember thy creator in... thy youth" (Eccl. 12:1).
(4) Purity of mind. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it
are the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23).
(5) Ezra's knowledge of the law, Israel's history, and the promises
made to Abraham, Moses, and David could motivate him to please God.
Also, Ezra may have known of Daniel, who would have been a good role
model.
How well have we prepared our heart to seek the law of God, to do it,
and teach it to others?
-- Via The Dyersburg Pathfinder, Vol. 29, No. 11, May 15, 1996
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-3-
Be Careful What You Say
by Greg Gwin
There are numerous statements in the Proverbs about the use of our
tongues. We are warned about the sins we can commit with our words, but
we are also encouraged about the good that can be done if we exercise
caution in our speech. Consider these important truths:
15:1,2 "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up
anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of
fools poureth out foolishness."
29:11 "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in
till afterwards."
l2:22 "Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal
truly are his delight."
12:18 "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the
tongue of the wise is health."
16:13 "Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him
that speaketh right."
10:11 "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but
violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."
10:20 "The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of
the wicked is little worth."
15:4 "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness
therein is a breach in the spirit."
25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of
silver."
-- via The Beacon, July 20, 2010
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"For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him
with favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:12).
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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 a little less than 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. Just walk pass the check-in counter; turn
right at the hall. The first and second doors on the left lead to
where we meet.