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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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March 20, 2016
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Contents:
1) The Christian's GPS Guide (Steve Locklair)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
The Christian's GPS Guide
Steve Locklair
Most people are familiar with the GPS, a global navigation satellite
system developed by the Department of Defense which transmits
precise signals allowing receivers to calculate and display accurate
location, speed, and time information to the user. These global
positioning systems work in most weather conditions, day or night,
24 hours a day, around the globe, and we can use them to help us get
to our destinations. You simply put in your destination address, and
it will tell you turn by turn directions for the roads you need to
travel to get you there. Some models will even alert you to traffic
and construction delays that you might encounter and will allow you
to avoid them. Using the acronym GPS, let us consider a few
comparisons between this man-made GPS and God, and how we should use
our spiritual GPS. First, we should recognize God's Powerful
Sight. God is like the man-made GPS in that He knows exactly where
you are at and where you are going, both physically and spiritually,
just as he did with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:9-13, 17ff). But while
the man-made GPS makes mistakes and is dependent on the accuracy of
the installed map, God is infallible, inerrant, and eternal, which
all men should realize or they are without excuse (Romans 1:20;
Proverbs 15:3). God has given us an inspired, infallible, and
inerrant word to correct us when we are wrong and instruct us in
doing what is right in His sight so that we will have the wisdom to
get to our eternal destination through Christ (2 Timothy 3:14-17;
John 14:1-6). Are you doing what is right in your own eyes or the
eyes of the Lord (Judges 17:6; 21:25)?
In addition, we should follow God's Powerful Standard. Just as the
GPS has to make choices as to which road to go on, we also make
decisions as to our eternal destination. God has created us in His
image without sin when we are born, but at some point in our youth
we choose to sin (Ezekiel 18:20; Jeremiah 3:25; James 1:13-16;
Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:4). When we make choices based upon our
feelings without divine revelation, the GPS tells us that it will
eventually lead to eternal condemnation (Proverbs 14: 12; Revelation
21:8). We cannot guide our own footsteps in righteousness (Jeremiah
10:23). Thankfully, through the power of His blood and resurrection
from the dead, we can be born again to a living hope through the
reliable standard of the Scriptures (John 11: 25-26; 1 Peter 1:3-5,
19, 22- 25). If you are not on the right road that leads to heaven
(through God's Powerful Standard), you will not escape the righteous
judgment of God (Hebrews 4:12-13).
We must also avoid the Great Prowling Schemer (Satan). Realizing
God's Powerful Sight and following God's Powerful Standard will put
us on the right road, but through our journey, we will encounter
many traffic snares, construction delays, and road blocks that we
must detour around or persevere through. We also can be honestly and
sincerely thinking we're going the right way but still be wrong. An
example of this is following a man-made GPS and taking the wrong
turn. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and uses those
who appear to be righteous in order to deceive others (2 Corinthians
11:14-15).
Even though he appears innocent, we must not let our guard down,
because the Bible describes Satan as a roaring lion seeking to
devour souls (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is always scheming in order to get
people to curse God and disobey Him (Job 1:11). But how does he get
people to do that?
Satan can use families.
Satan took away everything Job had but allowed his wife to live so
that she would do Satan's bidding when she told Job to "curse God
and die" (Job 2:9). What if your loved one told you to quit serving
God when you were suffering through trials? Would you do it? Job
overcame the great prowling schemer and did not curse God (Job 1:22;
2:10). You must love Jesus more than any other family member and not
give in when they tell you to sin; discourage you from doing what is
right; or become your enemy; otherwise you are not worthy of Him
(Matthew 10:34ff; Luke 6:46). Will you put on the whole armor of God
so that you will be able to stand firm and overcome the schemes of
Satan (Ephesians 6:10ff)?
Satan can use friendships.
The Bible warns about bad company corrupting good morals (1
Corinthians 15:33). But in an attempt to be popular, or get along
with others in order to avoid persecution, many will decide to hang
out with the wrong crowd. If you do this and continue to be their
friends, ultimately, you will think, talk, dress and act like them.
But if you delight in God's word, you will overcome the GPS (Satan)
by saying no to their enticements to sin (Psalms 1:1ff; Proverbs
1:10ff). Even if you have faithful friends, Satan can use them to
lead you astray. They may judge you by appearance, traditions, or
assumptions (Job 4:8; 8:8; 11:5-6; 19:14; 32:3; 42:7). Will you say
no when your friends entice you to sin or will you give in to the
great prowling schemer?
Satan can use ministers.
Satan disguises himself as a minister of righteousness so that he
can deceive people into believing a lie. "No wonder, for even Satan
disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not
surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of
righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds" (2
Corinthians 11:14-15). Satan can use his ministers to tell people...
that "all roads lead to heaven"; "just accept Christ as your
personal Savior and you will be saved"; "once you're saved, you're
always saved"; "it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you
are honest and sincere"; etc. We must not think of any man above
that which is written (1 Corinthians 4:6), and we must test the
spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1) so that we
will not fall victim to the deceptions of the Great Prowling
Schemer.
Finally, we must obey God's Plan of Salvation. With the man-made
GPS, the mileage will change as you get closer to your destination.
Even though there are different answers along the way, it is still
accurate (unless it has malfunctioned). It is the same way
concerning God's plan of salvation. In the book of Acts, different
answers are given to people depending on where they are at
spiritually. They are not told everything they need to do at one
time. Remember that the sum of God's word is truth (Psalms 119:160).
An unbeliever should examine the facts of the gospel so that he
might believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God or he will die in
his sins (John 20:30-31; 8:24). The only way anyone can have faith
is by hearing God's Powerful Standard (Romans 10:17), not by a
vision, miracle, feeling, or strong conviction.
A person who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God must have
the conviction to obey everything Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20;
John 14:15; Hebrews 5:8). A person who does not obey God's plan of
salvation will be punished forever in torment (2 Thessalonians
1:7ff).
The Ethiopian eunuch heard preaching about Jesus and asked what
hindered him from being baptized. He was told if he believed with
all his heart he could. Then he said, "I believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). This was in accordance with Jesus'
command to believe and be baptized in order to be saved (Mark
16:15-16).
Those who were pricked in their heart that Jesus is Christ and Lord
on the Day of Pentecost were told to repent and be baptized. Why? So
that they could have the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). A penitent
believer was told to "arise and be baptized and wash away your sins,
calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Why was he baptized?
So that his sins would be washed away. Then a Christian is told to
learn to obey everything Jesus commanded and grow in the grace and
knowledge of His will (Matthew 28:20; 2 Peter 3:18).
In conclusion, you will need to use your spiritual GPS (God's
Powerful Standard) everyday of your life so that you will be able to
overcome the Great Prowling Schemer and obey God's Plan of Salvation
so that you can eventually go to heaven. Satan is trying to deceive
people into believing that the way to heaven is broad and easy and
many will go there. Do not be deceived! God's Powerful Standard is
narrow, difficult, and few will actually go to heaven. "Enter by the
narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to
destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is
the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are
few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
-- Via The Watchman Magazine, January 26, 2010
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-2-
News & Notes
We enjoyed our gospel meeting with Ron Edwards.
He did an excellent job and delivered 5 good and interesting lessons
March 18-20.
We rejoice in the conversion of Victoria ("Tori") McCarthy
who was baptized into Christ March 24! She and her family have
been attending with us over the last couple months, and a few of us
have also been having some additional Bible studies with
them.
Let those of us us are Christians continue to remember the following
in prayer:
Easton Cox is now back home following his surgery that had
removed his entire left kidney, due to a malignant tumor that had
been attached to it. He has now also begun chemo treatments;
but they are mild, since there is no tumor remaining that needs to
be shrunk.
Carol Drain began her chemo treatments last Friday and now
has 5 more to go, with each being 21 days apart.
Joyce Mooney's daughter Mandy has been diagnosed with a mass
on her brain and breast.
Barbara Sutherland (Marie Pennock's niece) has been diagnosed
with breast cancer.
Misty Thornton no longer need her Life Vest, due to her heart
ejection fraction coming up to 45%. Her heart rate still
goes too high at times, and she has to battle constant fatigue; but
she has gone back to work (which she can do mainly from her
home). She also has been approved for Bariatric Surgery and is
glad for that -- for it will help put her on the transplant list, as
well as prolong the need for it.
Let us also continue to remember the family and friends of James
Taylor (Martha Lively's brother) and the family and
friends of Robert Young (Anita Young's husband) who both
passed away recently.
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/the-gospel-observer-march-20-2016/
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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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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM
& 5 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)